Last month Lakota Language Consortium staff Jamie, Shania, and Samantha spent three days in Rapid City, South Dakota, at the 44th Annual Lakota Nation Invitational (LNI). Invited teams from the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ and surrounding areas that come together for a variety of competitions and cultural events. Generations of Lakota families attended to support Native Youth participating in various cultural activities and sports. While LNI is a basketball-focused event, Native Youth can also participate in a number of events, including Hand Games, Art Shows, Traditional Dances, and the Lakota Language Bowl. 

LLC staff attended LNI to share information about available language-learning materials and support the efforts of those in the Lakota language community. Many families picked up children's books as holiday gifts! It is exciting for LLC staff to see so many new learners interested in information on how to get started learning Lakota. 

TLC and LLC would like to extend congratulations to all the Language Bowl participants and winners for investing their time in learning the Lakota language, and for making strides in language efforts!