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The Lakota Waldorf School: Our children must walk with the Lakota language and Lakota way of life

October 13, 2020

South Dakota is the land of the great Lakota Nation. The Pine Ridge Reservation, home of the Oglala (Scatter Their Own) Lakota Sioux Tribe, is one of nine Indian reservations in the state and the home of approximately 40,000 Oglala Lakota. The Pine Ridge Reservation is situated within Shannon County where the per capita income makes it the second poorest county in the US with an average annual income of $3,700.00 and an unemployment rate of over 80%. Residents suffer from serious illnesses; diabetes, heart disease and chronic health conditions occur at levels vastly disproportionate to the national average. The life expectancy rate on the reservation is 48 years for men and 52 years for women. The school dropout rate is over 70%; the incidence of teen suicide is 150% above the national average. Even in 2011 there are still residents on the reservation without plumbing, kitchen facilities and electricity. Despite these harsh conditions, poverty and suppression, the Lakota people still proudly live a rich culture, work toward maintaining the cultural heritage and toward the revival of their language. Nowadays only about 4% of the Lakota are fluent Lakota speakers and most of these speakers are over 50 years old. Their language will disappear if schools don’t start with immersion programs implementing the Lakota language into the curriculum. More »