Albert White Hat (November 18, 1938 – June 13, 2013) was a teacher of the Lakota language, and an activist for Sičháŋǧu Lakȟóta traditional culture. He translated the Lakota language for Hollywood movies, including the 1990 movie Dances with Wolves, and created a modern Lakota orthography and textbook.
He spoke only Lakota as a child. He attended day school in Spring Creek, South Dakota.[3] Unlike many of his peers at St. Francis Jesuit Mission School, who were sent to boarding school at age five, he was not sent until age sixteen.[4]
I grew up with a lot of the older people, listened to the stories. And those stories were inside of me. And I went into a boarding school system, and they killed those stories in that system. I came out of there totally ashamed of who I am, what I am. In the late sixties, I went back to the culture, on my own. I let my hair grow, I started speaking my language. And one of those times, I fasted. I did the vision quest, for five years.[5]
Teacher of Lakota language and culture
After graduating from St. Francis Jesuit Mission School, he held various jobs. White Hat pushed for instruction in the Lakota language in the Todd County, South Dakota school district when his children entered school in the 1960s. Lakota language was not a part of the South Dakota state curriculum at the time. Eventually he learned to create his own lesson plans, and became a Lakota language teacher himself.[4] He became chair of the "Committee for the Preservation of the Lakota Language" in 1982.[6]
White Hat spent twenty-five years teaching the Lakota language at Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, and became the head of the Sinte Gleska Lakota Studies Department."[6] He developed a teaching method that uses extensive examples from the culture of the Brule Lakota, and became known as a scholar of the language. He would teach Lakota culture to "both tribal members and non-Native Americans."[6] He has been quoted as saying, "When we teach a language to a student, we should develop in that student another heart and another mind."[7] He assembled his notes into a book in 1999, Reading and Writing the Lakota Language.[8] He was the "first native Lakota speaker to publish a Lakota textbook and glossary."[6]
He was active in traditional Lakota spiritual life. Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Cyril Scott called him "a great teacher" and "spiritual leader."[6][9] White Hat spoke at conferences and gatherings, including the 2008 "Planning for Seven Generations" conference in Boulder, Colorado,[10] and was well known on the powwow circuit.[6] A "Lakota Documentaries" video by Don Moccasin (1948–2009) features Albert White Hat speaking about the survival of the Lakota language, in Lakota with English language subtitles.[11]
Works
White Hat, Sr., A. (1999). Reading and Writing the Lakota Language. Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press; ISBN9780874805727
White Hat, A., Sr. (1983). . Mission, South Dakota: Sinte Gleska University.
White Hat, Sr., Albert (2012). "Life's Journey - Zuya: Oral Teachings". Salt Lake City: The University of Utah Press; ISBN978-160781-177-0 (cloth); ISBN978-1-60781-184-8 (paperback)
Awards
Living Indian Treasure Award (2007)
National Indian Education Association Indian Elder of the Year (2001)
^"Albert White Hat, Sr.: Obituary". Retrieved 2013-06-29.
^"Albert White Hat, preserver of Lakota language, dies at 74". The Washington Post. 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
^"Albert White Hat, Sr.: Life and Work". World Wisdom. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^ abAndrews, John (2009). "Saving their Language: Speakers Try to Revive Laktoa and Dakota Before They Disappear". South Dakota Magazine: Celebrating Life in South Dakota. No. March/April. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
^"One Sky Above Us (1887-1914)". The West. Episode 8. PBS. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
^ abcdefEaton, Kristie (2013-06-18). "Author, teacher of endangered Lakota language dies". Boston.com. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^Reading and Writing the Lakota Language: Albert White Hat Sr., Jael Kampfe, Vine Deloria Jr.: 9780874805727. ISBN0874805724. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^. Indian Country Today Media Network. 2013-06-19. Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^"Albert White Hat passes to the spirit world". Native Sun News. 2013-06-20. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
^"Albert White Hat". Tribes & Climate Change. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
^ abAntoine, Dr. Jurgita. . Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
External links
"Albert White Hat: Lakota Words Have Impact". Archived from the original on 2013-06-30.
. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-06-30. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
August 23, 2023
albert, white, november, 1938, june, 2013, teacher, lakota, language, activist, sičháŋǧu, lakȟóta, traditional, culture, translated, lakota, language, hollywood, movies, including, 1990, movie, dances, with, wolves, created, modern, lakota, orthography, textbo. Albert White Hat November 18 1938 June 13 2013 was a teacher of the Lakota language and an activist for Sichaŋǧu Lakȟota traditional culture He translated the Lakota language for Hollywood movies including the 1990 movie Dances with Wolves and created a modern Lakota orthography and textbook Albert White HatNatan Tokahe The First One to Charge Sicangu Lakota Sichaŋǧu Oyate Brule leaderPersonal detailsBorn 1938 11 18 November 18 1938Rosebud Indian Reservation South Dakota U S DiedJune 13 2013 2013 06 13 aged 74 Rosebud South Dakota 1 RelationsHollow Horn Bear grandfather Children7EducationSt Francis Jesuit Mission School Lakota language teacher and scholar at Sinte Gleska University Contents 1 Early life 2 Teacher of Lakota language and culture 3 Works 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditAlbert White Hat was born near St Francis South Dakota on the Rosebud Reservation to a traditional family His grandfather was Chief Hollow Horn Bear 2 He spoke only Lakota as a child He attended day school in Spring Creek South Dakota 3 Unlike many of his peers at St Francis Jesuit Mission School who were sent to boarding school at age five he was not sent until age sixteen 4 I grew up with a lot of the older people listened to the stories And those stories were inside of me And I went into a boarding school system and they killed those stories in that system I came out of there totally ashamed of who I am what I am In the late sixties I went back to the culture on my own I let my hair grow I started speaking my language And one of those times I fasted I did the vision quest for five years 5 Teacher of Lakota language and culture EditAfter graduating from St Francis Jesuit Mission School he held various jobs White Hat pushed for instruction in the Lakota language in the Todd County South Dakota school district when his children entered school in the 1960s Lakota language was not a part of the South Dakota state curriculum at the time Eventually he learned to create his own lesson plans and became a Lakota language teacher himself 4 He became chair of the Committee for the Preservation of the Lakota Language in 1982 6 White Hat spent twenty five years teaching the Lakota language at Sinte Gleska University on the Rosebud Indian Reservation and became the head of the Sinte Gleska Lakota Studies Department 6 He developed a teaching method that uses extensive examples from the culture of the Brule Lakota and became known as a scholar of the language He would teach Lakota culture to both tribal members and non Native Americans 6 He has been quoted as saying When we teach a language to a student we should develop in that student another heart and another mind 7 He assembled his notes into a book in 1999 Reading and Writing the Lakota Language 8 He was the first native Lakota speaker to publish a Lakota textbook and glossary 6 He was active in traditional Lakota spiritual life Rosebud Sioux Tribal President Cyril Scott called him a great teacher and spiritual leader 6 9 White Hat spoke at conferences and gatherings including the 2008 Planning for Seven Generations conference in Boulder Colorado 10 and was well known on the powwow circuit 6 A Lakota Documentaries video by Don Moccasin 1948 2009 features Albert White Hat speaking about the survival of the Lakota language in Lakota with English language subtitles 11 Works EditWhite Hat Sr A 1999 Reading and Writing the Lakota Language Salt Lake City The University of Utah Press ISBN 9780874805727 White Hat A Sr 1983 Lakota ceremonial songs Mission South Dakota Sinte Gleska University White Hat Sr Albert 2012 Life s Journey Zuya Oral Teachings Salt Lake City The University of Utah Press ISBN 978 160781 177 0 cloth ISBN 978 1 60781 184 8 paperback Awards EditLiving Indian Treasure Award 2007 National Indian Education Association Indian Elder of the Year 2001 Outstanding Indian Educator Award 1995 11 References Edit Albert White Hat Sr Obituary Retrieved 2013 06 29 Albert White Hat preserver of Lakota language dies at 74 The Washington Post 2013 06 23 Retrieved 2013 06 30 Albert White Hat Sr Life and Work World Wisdom Retrieved 2013 06 21 a b Andrews John 2009 Saving their Language Speakers Try to Revive Laktoa and Dakota Before They Disappear South Dakota Magazine Celebrating Life in South Dakota No March April Retrieved 2013 06 29 One Sky Above Us 1887 1914 The West Episode 8 PBS Retrieved 2013 06 29 a b c d e f Eaton Kristie 2013 06 18 Author teacher of endangered Lakota language dies Boston com Retrieved 2013 06 21 Reading and Writing the Lakota Language Albert White Hat Sr Jael Kampfe Vine Deloria Jr 9780874805727 ISBN 0874805724 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Lakota Educator Author and Linguist Albert White Hat Walks On Indian Country Today Media Network 2013 06 19 Archived from the original on 2014 10 13 Retrieved 2013 06 21 Albert White Hat passes to the spirit world Native Sun News 2013 06 20 Retrieved 2013 06 29 Albert White Hat Tribes amp Climate Change Retrieved 2013 06 21 a b Antoine Dr Jurgita Albert White Hat and Lakota Language Preservation Tribal College Journal of American Indian Higher Education Archived from the original on 2013 10 02 Retrieved 2013 06 29 External links Edit Albert White Hat Lakota Words Have Impact Archived from the original on 2013 06 30 Albert White Hat and Lakota Language Preservation Video Archived from the original on 2013 10 02 Retrieved 2013 06 30 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert White Hat amp oldid 1170080058, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
