I have had the joy of taking ‘Lakota Language I’ through Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota this semester. It has been a blast reconnecting learning Lakota language basics, philosophy of life, the power of storytelling, and the importance of decolonizing our minds. It has also been so great reconnecting with folks at Sinte!

Today I had the opportunity to present my final and it was so much fun. First I learned, sang, and translated the Lakota Bernstein Bears theme song. Check out the theme song here: https://youtu.be/LJF1BfIONhI?si=fMTli5N23G_BOV67. I also wrote a series of haikus in Lakota, their literal translation, and than an English haiku translation. You can see the song lyrics, the three haikus, and my English translations below.

Matȟó Waúŋšila Thiwáhe – Theme Song

Até iná čhúŋkš čhiŋkší – (My Father, My Mother, Daughter, Son)

Matȟó waúŋšila kiŋ – (The Kind Bear[s])

Lila ihákčhiktapi – (They feel very attached to each other)

líla oíyokiphi! – (Very Pleasant!)

Até iná čhúŋkš čhiŋkší – (My Father, My Mother, Daughter, Son)

Matȟó waúŋšila kiŋ – (The Kind Bear[s])

imáǧaǧaič’iyapi – (They enjoy themselves)

líla oíyokiphi! – (Very Pleasant!)

Até iná čhúŋkš čhiŋkší – (My Father, My Mother, Daughter, Son)

Matȟó waúŋšila kiŋ – (The Kind Bear[s])

Lila ihákčhiktapi – (They feel very attached to each other)

líla oíyokiphi! – (Very Pleasant!)

1

English Literal:

Rocky, class

Creator from

Learning I receive

Haiku:

From Rocky, the Class

and the Creator – I have

received much knowledge.

2

Lakota:

Wakȟaηpi Héchapi

Wičhoni Na Wičhúηt’e

Wičhakağapi

English Literal:

Sacred they are

Life and death

They create

Haiku:

All that can create

sparks of life and final death

is wholly sacred.

3

Lakota:

Lakȟótiyapi Kiη

Waúηspekhiye

Lakȟόl-Wičhόuη Kiη

English Literal:

The Lakota language

Teaches [teacher]

The Lakota way of life

Haiku:

Lakota language

is more than words – a way of

life – philosophy