Saving the Lakota Language through Immersion Education | Peter Hill | TEDxBrookings

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Published 2015-11-16
The Lakota language is a Native American language that is near extinction. In this audacious talk, Peter Hill shares his journey of saving the Lakota language through Lakota Immersion Childcare, also known as Iyápi Glukínipi.

Peter Hill was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, but has been living and working on the Pine Ridge Reservation for nearly 15 years. He became fluent in the Lakota language during his time on the reservation, and eventually became a Lakota language teacher

In the fall of 2012, Peter started Lakota Immersion Childcare, also known as Iyápi Glukínipi. The program has begun creating and disseminating large quantities of Lakota language children’s books and multimedia materials.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
  • @CmdrPewpeez
    being Lakota myself, I admire this guy for this very reason. Here is a non native, who sounds pretty fluent, trying to save our language and he truly cares for it. He's making a big impact on our children more than we know, and its a positive one at that.
  • @emilsabatini4038
    Peter Hill : Hou mitakuyape . Hello my relative. After seeing this video I had 2 respond by saying , philamayye , thank you 4 all you do in the emergence of and keeping the Lakota language alive and passed on 2 our children and future generations! We are indebted 2 ones like you ! I love you brother. May Wakang Tanka , Great Spirit, Creator of Life, Almighty God, Yahweh bless you and yours and keeping the Lakota language alive!
  • @jadebrownbull4873
    I'm oglala Lakota, I was raised mostly in rapid city here in South dakota and attended mostly mainstream schools. I'd never was taught about my own culture or language, or received an indigenous education at all while growing up as a youth throughout my teen years. Even on the pine ridge reservation, I am seen as an outsider because I am an urban native and don't know anybody on the rez. I can speak Lakota but not at a experience or on a advance level of some sort. I would like to speak more lakota again and become more experience at it. I may not be a rez native becuase I wasn't culturally raised like most rez natives are, but I'll always be an urban native with a open mind. Some of us are really ashamed for not being raised around the culture of our ancestral lands.
  • @koreylokeijak5314
    Wow I've never really heard the local language, sounds so beautiful. I am Navajo, our native name is Dine'. I truly admire this person he is an inspiration and I pray there are more people like him.
  • @IainOElliott
    I am part Onondaga. There are only fifty speakers of Onondaga left, and it is used chiefly for ceremonial purposes. I don't want to see the same thing happen to Lakota, so I am studying the language and donate regularly to the LLC.
  • @dallindavis7905
    I'm Lakota/Hispanic and was adopted by a white family, I knew nothing of my heritage till a few years ago, I've dedicated a lot of my life to learning this culture and and am now in the process of studying the language, I would like to become fluent someday, I don't have a whole lot of native speakers around where I live, But am hoping to make friends out side my state and attend some learning programs in the near future.
  • @Total_Freedom
    I am simply human. Not ethnically a part any of the beautiful Native American cultures whose land I get to live in. But I stumbled upon through an encounter with an inspiring Lakota soul. She taught me about some of the wonders of the culture and I am thrilled at anyone who makes an effort of keeping that beauty alive. For all of humanity. It enriches us.
  • @gabrieloakes
    I'm proud of this wasicu brother good thanks for helping the language
  • @phyllisgene4165
    Wow!We need to save and uses our native tongues and speakers.Thank You,Mr.Hill for coming out to speak up.I'm Navajo/Lakota/Cherokee/Ute
  • @igmugleska966
    Excellent. A life’s work that has only begun. Thank you.
  • @killerbee3794
    Peter Hill wopila tanka ecici ye! Thank you very much for helping saving our language!
  • @jasa9186
    I am trying 2 learn the language...i am not lakota...but I think this language is very...very important and has 2 be kept alive... If I can learn it I would LOVE 2 help ppl learn it especially Lakota ppl themselves. I do not live in an area where I have anyone I can speak the language with...but I am trying.
  • @RoknRobz121
    \0/ I had the wonderful privilege of spending time with him & his family while I was on Pine Ridge! It was incredibly awesome to hear the Lakota Language spoken so fluently! Knowing a Lakota Language Immersion Childcare exists in Oglala, gives me hope knowing more speakers of our sacred language will continue to grow for generations to come! 💯#Str8N8v4LYF Style ✨💗🙏😊💝🔥😃❤
  • @Reason1717
    As a Seneca I applaud your efforts to keep the Lakota words alive. Your work is important. Thank you for your efforts, truly.
  • @Tehui1974
    Keep up the good work bro. There are so many things in common between the native American population and the native Māori population in NZ. Here in NZ, there has been a pleasing increase in adults enrolling in Māori language classes over the last 5 years. The classes are literally full. We still have a long way though to get the language out of the 'endangered' state.