Dakota Wicohan Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Congratulations to Dakota Wicohan on its 10th Anniversary! A nonprofit organization headquartered in Morton, MN, Dakota Wicohan’s mission is to preserve Dakota as a living language, and through it, transmit Dakota lifeways to future generations.

Teresa Peterson, executive director, pictured below at the March 30, 2012, Wopida Celebration, reminisced that 10 years ago “we started with a few people around a kitchen table; small families and those with a passion about language, recognizing the healing that comes from this work.” A decade ago when the nonprofit was started, it was estimated that fluent speakers of the Dakota language had dwindled to fewer than a dozen.

Dakota Wicohan’s activities include a Teacher Apprenticeship Program and Youth Program.

Teresa Peterson

Redwood Falls Bremer Bankers, Mary Fischer and Jan Madson enjoyed the anniversary celebration.

Lois Schmidt, NRS, Willmar Charter