Division of Indian Work-Youth Leadership Development Program-First Langauge Project

The first goal of this project is that sixty nine American Indian youth ages 7-17 will increase their knowledge and practice of conversational Dakota through out-of-school time instruction by the end of the project period. Additionally, it is the hope that the Indian youth will continue to study Dakota and become fluent speakers. The project will provide experiential language instruction in conversational Dakota through cultural and recreational activities to these youth. Of these youth, it is expected that 75% will be able to introduce themselves in Dakota by saying their name in Dakota, their Indian name (if they have one), and where they are from. They will also be able to ask and answer at least eight phrases used in everyday communication and understand the uses of the four medicines. The Youth Leadership Development Program Coordinator, language consultants, and Dakota Youth Worker will develop lessons for teaching conversational Dakota in an out-of school time setting that uses Dakota traditions as the foundation for the curricula. The staff will purchase or produce appropriate materials for Dakota instruction and lesson plans.