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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, Aug 7, 2002 |
Contact: | ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215 |
"This funding will enable the nearly 40,000 Oglala Lakota to have a better understanding of their rich heritage, and develop the stronger family ties so important to the well-being of the entire community," Secretary Thompson said.
Oglala Lakota College (OLC) serves the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which encompasses 7,000 square miles. In surveys conducted in 1994, 2000 and 2002, OLC has documented an alarming rate of Lakota language loss among the 38,000 Oglala Lakota. While teaching the language in schools and at the college, OLC has been instrumental in the language preservation effort. However, the effort has been insufficient because there are not enough teachers and the language must be used in daily life to be retained.
Consequently, the college began implementing a Staff Lakota Language Acquisition Project, which provides incentives to staff to learn the language. While the project shows promise, funding is needed to refine the assessment process, develop incentive policies, train mentors and implement an extensive mentoring program. Additional initiatives will include training language coaches, developing protocols for immersion camps and developing a lending library of tapes, books, videos and other educational tools.
The grant is being awarded by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), a division of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within HHS. The $420,000 will be allocated over three years.
"If we're serious about improving the quality of life among American Indians, we have to provide the resources necessary for them to sustain their sense of identity within their family structures," Secretary Thompson said.
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