Dakota

Wowahaniçida

The story of finding this word: Living a short time in the Twin Cities, I was able to witness a growth of appreciation (not appropriation) for Native culture including welcomed shifts around language -- watch your use of tribe, spirit animal, and the always to show up in a business context - pow wow.

There are a number of tribal communities who called the borders of Minnesota home. Seven communities are Anishinaabe (Chippewa, Ojibwe) and four are Dakota (Sioux). I focused on the major languages used between these communities and was able to track down terms/phrases for Ojibwe and Dakota. Luckily, one of my wife's coworkers, Dr Tom Wyatt at Hennepin County Hospital, offered to help track down the Dakota word through his friends and contacts. Tom is a great advocate who invited us to the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Communities annual Wacipi (powwow) in the summer of 2019. It was an important experience; I highly recommend you attend a powwow if you get the opportunity. They're very welcoming events if you come with the respect and appreciation. So, back to the word, Tom tracked down a friend who recored this Dakota word which he sent to me. I will try to upload the audio.