Lakota Berenstain Bears DVD Release & Signing
The Berenstain Bears have been teaching children important values and meaningful life lessons for nearly half a century…and now, this beloved family of bears have begun their quest to help revive the endangered Lakota language.
On Saturday, November 19, members of the Lakota Berenstain Bears Project will be making an appearance in our bookstore! Cast members will be here to celebrate the release of their Limited Edition DVD Set of Matho Waunsila Thiwahe, meet and greet fans, and sign copies of this inspiring series from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Refreshments will also be served!
Berenstain Bears in Lakota
Matho Waunsila Thiwahe (Lakota for Compassionate Bear Family), is the first animated series ever to be translated into a Native American language. Twenty episodes of the series have already been dubbed into this ancient language, and the potential impact of the project is groundbreaking.
“This project gives hope to people. People have said this is a game-changer. As a generation of young people identify with these characters, it could have deep impact, and change their expectations for life".
- Wilhelm Meya, Lakota Language Consortium Executive Director
Lakota values - bravery, respect, generosity, and fortitude - play pivotal roles throughout the series and are expressed through family interactions and everyday adventures. The language use is real and also incorporates many common expressions; the storylines are entertaining, relevant, and relatable.
The voices of the characters include a range of the different dialects of the language; they are those of Lakota-speakers from the Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Pine Ridge, and Rosebud communities of North and South Dakota.
About the Project
The Lakota Berenstain Bears Project is a joint venture between the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the Lakota Language Consortium. Their goal is to bring the Lakota language to family television sets across Lakota-speaking communities in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Canada…and beyond.