Lakota Language with Jesse Taken Alive

1. What are the spiritual connections for individuals who learn to speak their Lakota language?
2. What are the laws and policies that historically banned the speaking and learning of native languages? Why were these laws and policies passed? How were they overturned?
3. In what ways did the Elders “go underground” to save their language and culture? What are some of those stories?
4. When and how did tribal languages such as Lakota develop into a written form? Who did that and why was it done?
5. Are all Lakota speakers “happy” with the new language teaching developments done by linguists? What are the various perspectives?

1. Have you learned any languages other than English? Have you learned a language any of your ancestors spoke as a first language? What was that experience like for you?
2. How do you feel about governmental policies that are designed to police or eliminate certain languages? Why do you think this was done?
3. Have you ever had to “go underground” about something? Are you willing to share that openly now? What was that experience like?
4. How do you feel about the preservation of endangered languages? How important is this issue for the native speakers? How important is it for the larger, global community?