Vanessa Goodthunder

All SeriesIápi Wakán: Sacred Languages

Feb 8

Written By Lindell Haywahe

Air Date: February 8, 2026

Summary

Episode 2 - Vanessa Goodthunder language presentation at the 2025 Language Conference.

Episode 17 - Interview with Vanessa Goodthunder

**SERIES**

Iápi Wakán: Sacred Languages - Season 2

**HOST & PRODUCER**
Lindell Haywahe

Episode Guest

Vanessa Goodthunder (Šná Šna Wíŋ) is from Cansayapi (Lower Sioux Indian Community). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in U.S. History and American Indian Studies–Dakota language and a Master of Education from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Her passions include education, revitalizing the Dakota language, and working with Native youth. Vanessa has worked with Dakota Wicohan, served as a Tribal Affairs Policy Advisor in the Office of the Governor of Minnesota, and sits on multiple education and community boards. She is the Director of Cansayapi Wakanyeza Owayawa Oti (CWOOT), a Birth-5 Dakota immersion school and the first Dakota Head Start in Minnesota.

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DECOLONIZING AND PROMOTING OUR OČÉTI ŠAKÓWĮ LIFEWAYS attention is devoted to promoting settler ways of living that highlight colonialist ideals. In hindsight, we are attracting, promoting, and internalizing traumatic dehumanizing discourse that impacts our nagi (spirit) furthering harm to our cultural and linguistic autonomy. Decolonization is often unpleasant, contradictory and questions our beliefs and experiences. Our language is foundational to our well-being as Dakota, Nakota and Lakota people. It is our protection and provides guidance but first we must allow ourselves to think “wakán ič’ina - deem oneself sacred” as intended ̨́ by our Creator-Great Spirit. This presentation is meant to identify common sense approaches through language that will allow change and revelation, embarking on a personal decolonization discourse. By looking inward, we begin to define and make connections to our Očéti Šakówį lifeways, and further the dialogue for ourselves.

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Iápi Wakán: Sacred Languages - Bonus Interviews

A collection of bonus interviews conducted and produced by Lindell Haywahe, Amanda Leader, and William Alexander Yuzicapi. Our producers interviewed a variety of individuals so they could share their life journeys as fluent and student speakers of their languages.

Vanessa Goodthunder

Vanessa Goodthunder's presentation focused on the Dakota language and Wicohan (Way of Life) that is taught to children from birth to five-years-old. Her goal is to expand this program to older children. She says the five-year-olds will be co-teachers in the advanced program.

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In his presentation, Arvol Looking Horse talks about the importance of World Peace and Prayer Day--June 21, and his life journey that brought him to the Oceti Sakowin conference.

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Lindell Haywahe

Vanessa Goodthunder

Summary

Iápi Wakán: Sacred Languages - Season 2

Episode Guest

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