A new documentary on the Lakota language titled "Oyate Woyaka" is set to premiere on March 29 at the Criss Auditorium of Bellevue University, aiming to bring attention to the indigenous tongue teetering on the brink of extinction. According to the News from the States, the film showcases Lakota elders who are fluent in their ancestral language, drawing upon traditional culture and spirituality to reignite its usage.
The premiere, sponsored by the Omaha-based nonprofit Bluebird Cultural Initiative and the organization Speaking of Happy, is set to occur at the Humanities Center on campus. The screening, which is open to the public without charge, will start at 5:30 p.m. As stated in the Nebraska Examiner, the film's dedication to the preservation of the Lakota language by featuring elders deeply rooted in this bedrock of their cultural identity.
"We are very proud of this film and have been committed to its making," Nicole Benegas, executive director of Bluebird Cultural Initiative, told Nebraska Examiner, highlighting the organization's engagement in the film's production. "Preserving our language is key to our culture," Benegas added, underscoring the crucial link between language and cultural heritage.
The local community and broader audiences are encouraged to attend the premiere to learn about the Lakota language and the efforts underway to ensure its survival. An Omaha-based nonprofit's effort, the Bluebird Cultural Initiative, embraces this cause with pride, understanding the urgency of preserving a vernacular on the edge of disappearing told News from the States, embracing the cause with a fierceness and an understanding of what is at stake.
