WISH LIST FOR LAKOTA CIRCLE VILLAGE

INTRODUCTION:

This represents a list of resources requirements/needs identified to develop and implement the goal of establishing a Lakota language immersion school, that will provide the opportunity to prevent the loss of the Lakota language.

The highest priority and need is the construction of the Home-style school building and Outdoor Learning Center. They represent the core of need that will accomplish the goal. These structures need to reflect the pride of our ancestry and heritage.

The focal point is the Immersion Classroom. Envisioned is a classroom setting that reflects the image of a sweat lodge, O’Ini Caga. The theme to be presented reflects the spiritual and sacredness of the Lakota relationship to God, Wakan Tanka, as gifted to the Lakota by a sacred being, the White Buffalo Calf Woman, Pte San Win. The Lakota used the sweat lodge to represent the understanding that Mother Earth, nourishes and nurtures all of creation. The purification of body, mind, soul through sacred ceremony and prayer is performed within the sweat lodge. The sacred pipe, Cannupa , and sacred values, Wicoahope, also brought by Pte San Win, will be the foundation for the teachers and students within this room. The classroom will be encircled above by material reflecting willow used in the frame of the sweat lodge. The ceiling will be painted to reflect the night sky. The Lakota Star Constellations will be painted in the shape of their specific meanings. It is the Lakota belief reflected in this saying, “ What is in the Heavens is on Mother Earth, and What is on Mother Earth is in the Heavens”

God, Wakan Tanka, gave all mankind, a tongue (language), to understand their spiritual and sacred relationship to the Creator of all. Within this understanding lies the search and quest of the true identity accorded to all beings. The concern for the loss of our tongue, is the fear of losing ability, as intended by Wakan Tanka, to communicate.

The Outdoor Learning Center will be used to provide a setting enabling the students to learn and understand all of our relatives, as reflected in our saying: “Mitakuye Oyasin”. In Lakota spiritual and cultural values, the understanding lies within all of creation including two-legged, four-legged, winged, those that crawl or swim, and all that which grows and lives on Mother Earth. The students will be provided all that needs to be understood using all the senses of the body, mind, and spirit, i.e., hearing, smelling, feeling, tasting, and seeing.

ITEM	DESCRIPTION	PURPOSE	ACTION AND STATUS
Home Style School Building	Home-style building 30’ x 80’ with basement or crawl space.	Serves as classroom, dining room, library, and resource room, and kitchen for students	Completed, dedication 7-30-08.
Outdoor Learning Center.	Circular building, 30’ diameter with surround of windows/screens. To have toilet and shower. A fire place or open fire pit.	Serves as outdoor classroom for physical activities, greenhouse, and muli-purpose gathering site.	House has been donated need assistant and funds to move.
Sewer Line Connection	A connection to the Oglala Village sewer system.		Completed and operational.
Electric Line	Connection to LaCreek Electric Assoc.		Completed and operational.
Water line	Connect to OST Water system		Completed and operational.
Telephone Line	Connect to Golden West Telecom.		Completed and operational.
Access Road	Construct an all season road.		Completed and operational.
Parking lot and cement sidewalk to building			Not completed - funding & assistance.
Foundation for Home Style School	Prefer a basement foundation for use as tornado shelter		Completed and operational.
Fence Site	Erect a 4 barb wire fence surrounding school complex		Not completed - funding & assistance.
Welcome Sign built with Black Hills Rock	Construct a 12’ x 5’ wall built with stone from sacred Black Rock.		Not completed - funding & assistance.

Plant trees that are used by Lakota. Includes 13 species			Practically completed funding and assistance needed.
Develop a Logo for Lakota Circle Village			Completed
Construct a playground for students.			Not completed - funding & assistance.
Build maintenance/storage/garage			Not completed - funding & assistance.
Obtain small school bus			Completed and operational.
Obtain riding mower.			Not completed - funding & assistance.
Managers Quarters