The Lakota Verb: A Guide to Lakota Speaking

The layout of this book is designed in such a way that it contains a self-teaching method for learning the Lakota language. The student will progress through the book, page by page, with each new page building upon understanding of the previous one.

Whenever a student reads a Lakota sentence in this book, they will know what they are saying because the English translation is right next to it. With regular practice, these students will be able to formulate their own Lakota sentences by using the word order diagrams.

Author: Matthew Uses Knife
Book Details: Spiral Bound, 2024, 362 pages

Review:

Lakota Verb is a new Language Guide, which is comprehensive and easy to follow. Matthew Uses Knife has put together the best language guide I have ever seen. Mr. Uses Knife is a prominent Mnicojou Lakota (Cheyenne River Sioux Nation) artist, storyteller, and educator. Matthew is highly respected for creating traditional murals, illustrating books, as well as being a teacher of the Lakota Language and traditions. Some of Matthew’s murals are in the Lakota Cultural Center in Eagle Butte, SD.

This is what Matthew Uses Knife says about Lakota Verb “Whenever a student reads a Lakota sentence they will know because the English translation is right next to it. With regular practice, students will be able to formulate their own Lakota sentences by using word order diagrams.”

Matthew designed the layout of Lakota Verb in a way that promotes a self-learning method for learning Lakota Language. Each page builds from the previous page. Mr. Uses Knife is a vocal activist for educational reform for Indigenous Language Preservation and has advocated for increased community-wide language use.

Anita Comeau
Book & Music Store Manager
Prairie Edge