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By Logan Lehmann

Preserving and Promoting Dakota Language

Ministry of Education set to add Dakota Language to Sask. high schools next fall

Aug 24, 2022 | 2:00 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan announced on Wednesday that the Ministry of Education is preparing to add the Dakota Language to its list of high school classes for the 2023-24 school year.

The Ministry will work closely with the Dakota Nations of Saskatchewan including the Wahpeton Dakota Nation, approximately 19-km northwest of Prince Albert.

Classes in Dakota 10, 20, and 30 curricula will be offered and will join the already available secondary language courses of Nēhiyawēwin 10, 20, 30; Dene 10, 20, 30; Nakawe 10, 20, 30; Michif 10, 20, 30; and Nakoda 10, 20, 30.

“The Government of Saskatchewan supports the preservation and growth of First Nations and Métis languages in Saskatchewan,” Minister of Education Dustin Duncan said. “Providing Dakota language curriculum ensures more opportunities for First Nations and Métis languages to be learned and used by younger generations and supports revitalization of First Nations and Métis culture and heritage.”

In a release, the Chief of the Wahpeton Dakota Nation, Chief John Waditaka, said that the new curriculum will help students understand the Dakota Language.

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“The Wahpeton Dakota Nation is pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Education in the development of a Dakota language curriculum,” Chief Waditaka said. “(the curriculum) will provide an authentic Dakota Oyate worldview for the greater provincial student population and will open the doors for further authentic research of the Northern Dakota Peoples.”

The development of the new curriculum will take place throughout the 2022-23 school year.

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logan.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @lloganlehmann