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FORT YATES, N.D. (AP) — The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is prioritizing the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to those that converse Dakota and Lakota languages.
Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Mike Faith tells KXMB-TV it’s about retaining customs alive.
“It’s something we have to pass on to our loved ones, our history, our culture our language. We don’t have it in black and white, we tell stories. That’s why it’s so important,” Faith mentioned.
The Standing Rock reservation straddles the North Dakota and South Dakota border and is house to about 8,000 individuals, greater than half of whom reside in North Dakota.
Faith mentioned solely about 300 individuals on the reservation are fluent within the language.
Frontline well being care employees have already got begun receiving he vaccine on the Fort Yates hospital, however beginning subsequent week precedence will likely be for individuals who converse their native language.
In addition to those that can keep it up the tradition, the subsequent part contains elders, regulation enforcement, tribal courts and the varsity system, tribal officers mentioned.
Tribal Health Director Margaret Gates mentioned the Lakota and Dakota audio system “are the most important asset to our tribe and people because of the language.”
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