Executive Proclamation
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Office of the Tribal Chairman
Whereas, the Tribal Council of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, by and
through its authority vested by the Revised Constitution and By-laws
adopted Resolution No. SW-08-079; and
Whereas, by that resolution the Tribal Council of the Sisseton-Wahpeton
Oyate Lake Traverse Reservation declared that the Dakota language
embodies the life, culture and identity of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
and revitalization is paramount to the survival of our Nation; and,
Whereas, the Tribal Council of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Lake Traverse
Reservation recognized the importance of revitalizing the Dakota
language and declared that it will be recognized as the first language
of the people of the Lake Traverse Reservation and we must eliminate the
disparity between the use of English and the Dakota language; and
Whereas, in this year, 2008, from January through this date, nine – and
possibly more – of our fluent treasured elders have went on their
journey to the spirit world representing a loss to the Oyate of nine
percent (9%) of the entire population of our fluent treasured elders:
Now, Therefore, I, Michael I. Selvage Sr., Tribal Chairman of the
Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, do hereby proclaim a Dakota Language Crisis and
further declare that the Dakota language is in a state of emergency.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed
the Great Seal of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, on the Lake Traverse
Reservation, in Agency Village, South Dakota, this 30th day of July,
2008.
/s/Michael I. Selvage Sr., Tribal Chairman
Tammy DeCoteau
AAIA Native Language Program
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