The interview posted above is from SDPB's daily public affairs show, In the Moment with Lori Walsh.
Kevin Locke was a gifted musician and dancer. He performed for more than a million people in over 90 countries. He was committed to bringing the gift of language to young people on reservations so their culture and history would remain. Kevin Locke recently passed away and is being remembered by many.
The Language Conservancy and Lakota Language Consortium provided the following remembrance of Kevin Locke in both Lakota and English.
Bloomington Otȟúŋwahe, IN, Čhaŋwápe Kasná Wí ičíšakpe, 2020 Wičháša waŋ Kevin Lock ečíyapi kiŋ hé Čhaŋwápe Kasná Wí háŋl, aŋpétu kiŋ tȟokáheya háŋl, makȟá wičhóni ékignake. Lakȟól-čhažé kiŋ Tȟokéya Inážiŋ ečíyapi. Ikčé-oyáte iyápi kiŋ é na tȟalówaŋpi na tȟawíčhoȟ’aŋ kiŋ patáŋyaŋ íštiŋčiyiŋ na hé úŋ očháštȟuŋyaŋ úŋ. Húŋkpapȟa-Lakȟóta héčha na ópȟa, tkȟá nakúŋ haŋkéyela Ȟaȟátȟuŋwaŋ héčha. IyápiPatáŋpi-Okȟólakičhiye kiŋ é na Lakȟól’iyapi-GlukínipiOkȟólakičhiyeye kiŋ henáos él ópȟa na ikčé-oyáte iyápi patáŋyaŋ yukíniyaŋ škáŋpi kiŋ hé líla íštiŋčiye.
Waníyetu akézaptaŋ aktȟúŋyaŋ Lakȟól’iyapi-GlukínipiOkȟólakičhiye tȟa-óitȟaŋčhaŋ kiŋ él wóilag’ič’iye. Agná Iyápi-Patáŋpi-Okȟólakičhiye kiŋ úŋ tȟáŋtaŋhaŋ makȟásitomniyaŋ ič’íč’uya wówičhakičiglake s’a. Toná Lakȟól’iyapi ičháǧapi šni éyaš uŋspéič’ičhiyapi čhíŋpi kiŋ hená, waŋží. Na tȟokáheya uŋspéič’ičhiya hiyúpi kiŋ hená, waŋží. Na nakúŋ Lakȟól’iyapi kiŋ patáŋyaŋ naǧóyiŋ na gluhá mánipi kta čha yukíniyaŋ škíŋčiye. Čha héčhekčhe wóiwaŋyaŋke ahíwičhakignake. Kȟoškálaka uŋ héhaŋ, Lakȟóta-wakáŋla kiŋ waŋyáŋg wičhái našna naǧówičhaye s’a, ičhíŋ Lakȟól’iyapi kiŋ thekíȟila. Eháŋkeč’uŋ-wičhóuŋ kiŋ héktakiya hakíkta étuŋwiŋ na nakúŋš tȟokátakiya étuŋwe, ičhíŋ tókheškhe eháŋni-wičhóuŋ slolkíyapi na tȟokátakiya taŋyáŋ iglóayapi kta héči, nuphíŋyaŋ slolyé-wačhíŋ na okhúwa.
Lakȟóta-lowáŋpi na wačhípi kiŋ ečhíyataŋhaŋ lílaȟčiŋ wayúphikiŋ na úŋ makȟásitomniyaŋ očháštȟuŋyaŋ oslólyapi. Wazíyata obláye-makȟóčhe kiŋ él tókhel šiyótȟaŋka-yažópi kiŋ é na čhaŋgléška yuhá wačhípi kiŋ hená ečhétkitkiya áotaŋȟčiŋ wóphike. Makȟówaŋčaya makȟóčhe wikčémna napčíyuŋka aktȟúŋ ektákta wóikpazo káǧiŋ na oyáte kȟoktášiča atkúŋ waŋyáŋg ípi. Owáyawata, wačhípita, makȟóčhe-patáŋpi kȟó, ektákta wópazo káǧe, na nakúŋ wóikpazo-wóškate (Smithsonian Folklife Festival kȟóya) na Wóakhiye-Thípi Tȟa-Wówapi-Othí-ta. Ikčé-Oyáte-Lowáŋpi-Wóohiye iglámna na olówaŋ mnayáŋ naǧóyapi akénuŋm káǧe, wičhóoyake kȟó; héčhekčhe wičhóȟ’aŋ kiŋ gluhá mánipi kta íškiŋčiye. Wóyuonihaŋ líla óta k’úpi. Wašíčuiya “National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship,” eyápi kiŋ hé waŋží yuŋkȟáŋ, hé é čha, iháŋkeya wóyuonihaŋ héčha.
Tȟokéya Inážiŋ mahélhetuya wóčhekiye gluhá máni. Ho na iyótaŋȟčiŋš tȟéčake čiŋ hená tȟokátakiya Lakȟól’iyapi kta čha úŋ tȟáŋtaŋhaŋ čhaŋtékič’uŋyaŋ íškiŋčiye. Hé úŋ owáyawa ektákta uŋspéwičhakhiyiŋ na wóslolye, wóuŋspe kȟó, yunáyeye. Owáyawata taŋtáŋyaŋ áiyoptepteya Lakȟól’iyapi kiŋ uŋspéwičhakhiyapi kte kiŋ sutáya kíčipatitaŋ na paǧíŋǧe šni okhúwa. Iyápi-Okȟólakičhiye núŋm ób khiyéla škíŋčiyiŋ na héčhel líglila wóptečašniyaŋ wawókiyiŋ na wóimnayaŋ wówačhiŋyeke. Ič’íč’uya wóikpazo káǧiŋ na waúŋspeič’ičhiya-wówapi káȟ ówičhakiye.
Lakȟól’iyapi-Glukínipi-Okȟólakičhiye oítȟaŋčhaŋ ópȟapi waŋ Ben Matȟó Sab’íč’iye (iyóhakapȟa) ečíyapi kiŋ hé, leyé: “Heháŋyela él úŋ šni kiŋ hé líla oíyokšiče. Éyaš óhiŋniyaŋ uŋkíksuyapi na wókiksuye kiŋ lé yuhá pátaŋwaŋžila Lakȟól’iyapi kiŋ waš’ág’uŋkiya-haŋpi kte. Táku kiŋ lé Tȟokéya Inážiŋ áotaŋȟčiŋ tákuyawa čha uŋkíš yuónihaŋyaŋ íškiŋuŋkič’iyapi kte. Na úŋ uŋkítȟaoyátepi kȟó, wičhúŋyuonihaŋpi kte,” ey Iyápi-Patáŋyaŋpi-Okȟólakičhiye él oítȟaŋčhaŋ yuhá waŋ Wil Meya ečíyapi kiŋ hé, leyé: “Kevin uŋgnúnipi kiŋ hé oyág-phičašniyaŋ tókhel-okíhika wógnuni tȟáŋka. K’éyaš Tȟokéya Inážiŋ Lakȟól’iyapi glukínipi kta čhaŋtíyagleya íškiŋčiye kiŋ hé uŋkíksuyapi na wókiksuye kiŋ gluhá maúŋnipi kte. Toná íyatayela Kevin slolyápi na tȟokáta wičhóuŋčhaǧe kȟó, iyúha pátaŋwaŋžila blihélya tȟawówaš’ake na tȟawókiksuye yuhá íškiŋuŋkičiyapi kte. Ho na lé wókikčaŋpte héčha.”
BLOOMINGTON, IN, October 6, 2020 – Kevin Locke, who passed on October 1, 2022, was noted for his outstanding efforts to preserve Native American languages, music, and culture. He was a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and was of Lakota and Anishinabe descent. Mr. Locke was closely aligned with The Language Conservancy (TLC) and the Lakota Language Consortium (LLC) and their mission to preserve and revitalize indigenous languages in North America.
For more than 15 years, Locke served as an LLC board member and volunteered and spoke on behalf of TLC at events around the world. As one of the first adult learners of the Lakota language, Locke was a role model, instrumental in language documentation, maintenance, and revitalization. His passion for languages was sparked by his own efforts as a young adult, learning Lakota by visiting elders and studying on Standing Rock. Locke looked to the past and to the future, drawing on his heritage to create a better future for his people.
An enormously gifted musician and dancer, he was widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost Northern Plains flute players and hoop dancers. Locke performed for more than a million people in more than 90 countries at venues including schools, powwows, state and national parks, performing arts festivals (including the Smithsonian Folklife Festival), and at the Library of Congress. The Native American music award-winner recorded 12 highly acclaimed albums of music and stories to keep his culture alive. He was honored with numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
A deeply spiritual person, Kevin Locke was particularly committed to bringing the gift of language to young people on reservations so that their history and culture would remain vital for generations to come. He championed teaching indigenous languages in schools and was instrumental in helping to incorporate them into the classroom. Working closely with TLC and LLC, he made enormous contributions to the organizations through volunteering, performing, and developing learning/teaching tools and content used widely in Native American schools.
“Kevin’s presence will be missed though his spirit will remain with us as we advance our mission of protecting and strengthening the Lakota language. We continue this important work in his honor and to honor our people,” said TLC and LLC Board Member Ben Black Bear. “There are no words to describe the depth of loss we feel at Kevin’s passing, but we take solace in knowing that his inextinguishable spirit and commitment to language revitalization lives on, both in the lives of those he touched and in future generations of indigenous young people,” said Wil Meya, TLC CEO. “He will be missed greatly as we continue this work, which he was so passionate about.”
