This program has been approved by the Chickasaw Language Retention Committee for the Chickasaw Nation. Star Lore Lynn Moroney, of Cherokee and Chickasaw ancestry, and formerly a planetarium director, tells the star lore to be found in the myths of Native Americans. Map makers traditionally identify stars and constellations by names derived from Greek and Roman myths. Native Americans created images and models of the universe and told myths of the same stars. In this course, developed at Oglala Lakota College, Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota, the emphasis is on sound and meaning.
All recordings are by native speakers.
Exercises for written practice are included, using the English alphabet, because Lakota was never written until recently. The course includes a final test. This video examines the role and sacred nature of dance, music, and oral tradition in Lakota culture using portions of the Vision Dance and interviews on Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. A Lakota of the Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota, Kevin Locke, tells the stories that reflect the values, belief systems, and social structure of his ancient heritage. The inspired sounds of Kevin's flute playing, as well as the spoken language, can be heard throughout the recording.