Lakota Circle Village Logo school 3generations
Lakota Circle Village
 
  Coming Soon - Online Lessons for the Lakota Language.
Tunyan Cangleska Wakan Wicoti el Yahi,
Eyunskiya Napa O”ciyuspe, Wopila Heca!




“I want to personally welcome  you to Lakota Circle Village, the site of Sacred Circle School. I shake your hand in greeting.. Thank you for taking time to visit.” for you to share our journey and quest through photo’s, video, and writings.

The endeavors of this project has a long history, that began when the Lakota had complete control of their cultural destiny.  Thousands of years of cultural development in language, philosophy, spiritual understandings flourished leading to an attainment of a pinnacle of holistic understood by only a few of mankind.  Wicozani was a wholeness of well being, spiritual, physical, mental, and economic. It was a way of life, guided and supported by our Creator.

In the last 200 years, a few new people came, gradually more and more coming onto the Lakota land. The desire for the land and its resources brought about conflict and destruction to the Lakota.  The Lakota fought to survive, but were quickly overwhelmed, finally being forced into confinement land known as “Reservations.” 

The most destructive change came about through the attempts to destroy their language, the foundation for total understanding of the thousands of years of cultural development.  The forced assimilation into another cultural for the Lakota still exists, eroding the language, as the remaining fluent speakers leave back to the spirit world.

 This endeavor to stop the erosion and loss of our language is one of the last attempts to stave off the process.. 

In the efforts of this project, there is a strong family connection connected to this history.

The Treaty of 1868, had been signed by our family ancestors, Chief Big Foot, and his father, Chief One Horn, and other Lakota leaders, declaring that this territory belonged to the Lakota.  The treaty was passed by Congress and signed by the President of the United States.  Eight years later, it was broken after gold was discovered in the Black Hills.  In 1882, Chief Big Foot, traveled to Washington, DC.,  along with other Lakota leaders to discuss their concerns brought about from an ever increasing presence of white people coming onto the Lakota territory.  At this meeting, Chief Big Foot requested the establishment of a school for their children to learn and understand their ways.  In his wise ways, he knew that this would offer a chance of future survival of the people.  The government officials agreed to establish such a school, but never took action.  Instead, eight years later, he and his people were massacred at the Wounded Knee Creek Massacre on December 29, 1890.

 

128 years later, this school is about to become a reality, in fulfillment of his vision, by the help of many people, and family descendants. But, in contrast, as now most Lakota know the good and bad of the culture that was forced onto the Lakota.

Lakota Circle Village and Cangleska Wakan Owayawa, is committed to revitalize and stabilize our language, a beautiful and spiritual-based language from which our children can find their own identity as a people.  With a better understanding of their own identity, the losses through assimilation will be stabilized.  Revitalization of their culture, and language as taught by their elders of what is important and necessary to live a quality life in two worlds, in the best of both.   The school’s intent is to provide a be successful language, its heritage, and spiritual beliefs transmitted to future generations Lakota operates solely by donation and income generated through special projects. Its goal is to become self-sufficient through these activities.  We appreciate any support that you have available, and in turn, we share our knowledge with you.

My grandfather, John Little Finger, survived the Wounded Knee Massacre.  He was 14 years old at the time, but managed to hide in the hills above the school site, until he felt it was safe for him.  He met my grandmother, and started a new life on this land.  He left me with the words, “They may have killed our people, but they must never kill our way of life.” To fulfill his wish, we have taken a portion of the land, to be used for this purpose.

In all my respect to you.

Leonard Little Finger