Interview · North Dakota · Oliver Gourd · NDNAEU 7
Themes: Land & stewardship, Language & revitalization, Kinship & family, Education & learning, Boarding schools & assimilation, Spirituality & ceremony, Arts & expression
Learn About questions
What does the word “wasicu” mean in Dakota?
How is wasicu education different from Dakota education?
What are examples of Native ceremonies?
What is a “sweat?”
Who is the pipe carrier?
Who is a healer?
Who are the singers and drummers?
Who is someone who knows about medicines and herbs?
How are degrees helpful to people?
Learn From questions
Was I taught in school in the way that is best for me to learn?
How did the way I was taught affect the way I learned?
Are there ceremonies or practices that my family does that are special to me? Why?
What are some talents that I have naturally? Did someone help me to discover those talents?
Are there things in my life that I have learned through nature or people who use nature to teach me?
Transcripts
Oliver Gourd- Two Types of Education, NDNAEU 7
Watch this interview on YouTubeThere’s two types of Education there’s a washitu you know then there’s an Indian I grew both ways bilingually all my life and I too went to California and I graduated with my what um boarding school during the week no to California Cal State had 26 000 students and my major was business administration with marketing and come back and now I’m teaching Dakota language it was just the opposite you know almost but so uh like I was telling one of these people one time this guy had this doctorate degree and I said you know I there’s two education that’s a design well she too and that’s good we all got it we need that in today’s world but there’s a Dakota way too you know the language so you know the language that’s good and then you know if you go to ceremonies or sweats if you’re a Sun Dancer if you’re a pipe carrier if you’re a Healer if you’re a singer and if you know the medicines the herbs all that kind of stuff history I said if he went to a university I said and told him what you know he said you’d be the only one that knows the world what do you know at that University and then the future world when somebody knows just know something up here David give them all kinds of initials behind their name I said you go tolerance and maybe to give you the voice behind yours
Resource text
NDNAEU Alignment:
Affiliation sources
NDNAEU document credits: Oliver Gourd — Spirit Lake (Dakota).
Source materials
Supplied transcript documents. Text and transcription uncertainties are preserved as supplied.