Interview · North Dakota · South Dakota · Jesse Taken Alive · OSEU 3 · NDNAEU 2
Themes: Language & revitalization, Kinship & family, Storytelling & oral tradition, Education & learning, Spirituality & ceremony, Values & generosity, Culture & continuity, Food & plants, Arts & expression, Listening & observation, Children & young people, Intergenerational learning
Learn About questions
1. What are the various creation or origin stories of the people of the Oceti Sakowin? How are they similar or different from other creation or origin stories?
2. What is “capitalism” and how might it cause misunderstandings of the idea of “wolakota” or peace?
3. Mr. Taken Alive said, “What we see, what we hear, what we feel…that’s what we become.” Why is watching and listening more important than talking? How does that promote “wolakota”?
4. Have “Pro Lakota” perspectives been interpreted as “Anti American” or “Anti White”? How do you communicate a positive perspective without it seeming negative toward other perspectives?
5. What’s a “demonstration project”? Are the Lakota people working on a different model for education to replace the American model in their schools? Who is doing this work and how is it going?
6. What is the translation of Mr. Taken Alive’s Lakota words and song?
7. What are the various meanings of the Lakota word, otehika?
Learn From questions
1. What origin stories have you heard? What origin stories are significant to you? What does your most significant one(s) teach you about the relationship of people / animals / plants and other elements of the creation?
2. What are your ideas concerning the idea of “peace”? Where have you learned or developed those ideas?
3. Have you ever been in a situation in which you should have done more listening and watching, but instead you did a little more talking than you should have? What happened?
4. Do you have some things that you are “pro” about? Do you have some things that you are “anti” about? How do you balance these stances? When is it best to be “pro”? When might it be necessary to be “anti”?
5. What model of education or learning do you believe is best? What experiences have brought you to this decision?
6. In your experience, is “hard” sometimes linked with “precious”? Can you give an example?
7. How do you rely on your parents, grandparents or other relatives these days? What do you still need from family? What do you provide for those family members?
Transcripts
Wolakota - Jesse Taken Alive - OSEU 3
Watch this interview on YouTubeA message for our friends…our non-Indian friends…there’s one Creator. There’s one world. Essentially we have the same address. The Creator is like a gardener, a magnificent gardener. He created mankind and he spread the seeds of mankind throughout the world. Different colors…different language…different culture…different history…different everything. But all coming from the same Creator. It’s beautiful. It’s really beautiful to think about it in that way. As Lakota, we have many teachings…as I said earlier…we say “wolakota,” which means peace or to be peaceful. That’s what we want to do. A lot of times that gets misunderstood in this aggressive world, in this capitalistic world, as not knowing or not caring. It’s totally the opposite. When somebody is sharing something with us, we use the two best things that we’ve got: our ears. When somebody is showing us something, we use the two best things that we’ve got: our eyes. When it’s our time, we only have one thing to use: our mind. What we see, what we hear, what we feel is what we become. That’s Lakota thinking. We want to make certain that we do our best to carry forward wolakota. And when we speak…to do our best…to try and articulate it in a way so our friends…so other cultures will know that its pro Lakota.
Jesse Taken Alive: [00:02:00] It’s not anti-American. It’s not anti-white. It’s pro Lakota. That’s something I try my best to do…to be that pro Lakota. To be that person that…so that way the message doesn’t get lost. I don’t want the message to get lost because then I will have failed my ancestors…that way I will have failed my children and grandchildren…if the message gets lost. Over the years, I know a lot of us have been given beautiful messages inspired by a lot of wonderful people…that inspiration with our language. I don’t want the message to get lost. As we proceed forward, as we look at education…the changes for the purpose of discussion today…if you want to call it a demonstration project, that’s fine…like I said, give us an equal amount of time…I know that we’ll be able to accomplish something. In less than 125 years, I know something good will happen…it’s happening now. LAKOTA UNTIL 6 min 46 sec
Jesse Taken Alive: [00:04:00] LAKOTA UNTIL 6 min 46 sec
Jesse Taken Alive: [00:06:00] LAKOTA UNTIL 6 min 46 sec I call this the song…we call it The Mama and Papa song. The words are simply that…throughout the world…LAKOTA PHRASE…the Lakota ways are precious. When we hear the word, LAKOTA WORD, sometimes we eliminate our understanding to say “it’s hard.” Some days it is. LAKOTA WORD means “priceless.” LAKOTA PHRASE we say…my mom and my dad LAKOTA PHRASE…my mom and my dad said I am a Lakota so I’m going to take courage. I know that prayer and that spirit of our ancestors was put out there…and continues to be out there for us to grab and understand. I share that in closing today. I am grateful for this opportunity. When we do our best to articulate our Lakota being and our language…as I said…
Jesse Taken Alive: [00:08:00] sometimes we fall down it seems like. We stand up and fall down. We’re stumbling around to use our language because we’ve been accustomed to using English most of the time. It’s an honor to be part of this and express myself a little bit with my Lakota ways. LAKOTA PHRASE.
Resource text
OSEU 3: INTERVIEW WITH JESSE TAKEN ALIVE
WoLakota Project
Teachings of Our Elders resource text:
NDNAEU Alignment:
Some indexed text was extracted from scanned material. Check the original source for exact wording and spelling.
Source materials
Supplied transcript document. Text preserved as supplied; spellings and transcription uncertainties have not been corrected.