Germany's King of Rock to Assist Lakota Children

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Germany's King of Rock to Assist Native American Children


Germany's King of Rock to Assist Native American Children


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RAPID CITY, S.D., March 22 (AScribe Newswire) -- Children on the
Pine Ridge Indian reservation will be getting some help from an unlikely
source in their effort to learn Lakota language and culture. German
rock-and-roll superstar Peter Maffay will be in South Dakota March 27-30
to dedicate a new project called the Lakota Circle Village. The project
is designed to help raise a new generation of Lakota-speaking children
according to positive traditional values. Its first goal is to establish
a Lakota language immersion school. Maffay has promised to help in its
construction.

Maffay is one of Germany's most popular musicians - selling over
35 million albums over the course of nearly forty years on the musical
scene. Despite the strong influence of English-language music in
Germany, he has made a name for himself as the leading German-language
rocker. Given Maffay's history of support for local languages, it seems
appropriate that he now be involved with the language preservation
efforts of the Lakota.

The project is an important element of Maffay's worldwide support
of causes that promote cultural understanding and benefit children.
Maffay is currently traveling to under-privileged communities across the
world as part of developing a new benefit album dedicated to them. The
album titled, "Encounters II: An Alliance for Children," will be a
collection of Maffay songs performed alongside musicians from each of
the chosen communities. "We choose artists from hotspots around the
world," explained Maffay. Proceeds from the album will go directly to a
charitable cause dedicated to the children. "Encounters II is intended
to take the world to the crisis spots, where the misery is the greatest
and the children need our help." The album will bring together artists
from around the globe, including: South Africa, India, Korea, China,
Ukraine, Romania, Palestine, Afghanistan, South America, and now the
Pine Ridge Indian reservation. Like other activist rockers, Maffay
combines his music with a universal message, "The album is a statement
against racism and for respect. We want to prove co-existence," says
Maffay.

While in South Dakota, Maffay will take part in traditional
Lakota activities and visit a number of important destinations. Maffay
begins his tour of the area on Monday morning with a reception at the
Prairie Edge Art Gallery in downtown Rapid City. He then visits sites in
the Black Hills and travels to the Pine Ridge reservation where he will
be treated to a traditional Lakota buffalo hunt and honored with a
ceremony.

Maffay is hosted by Leonard Little Finger, the founder of Circle
Village project. "The whole intent of this effort is to create an
opportunity for future generations of Lakota to be able to speak and
understand their cultural heritage. We can only accomplish this in a
setting where Lakota is taught and spoken - as it was in the past," says
Little Finger, grandson of Wounded Knee Massacre survivors. He adds,
"Our language was given to us by our Creator to maintain a sacred and
spiritual connection with all that has been created." Little Finger
stresses the urgency of the situation, "As Lakota, we are in a crucial
period of time - with the passing so many fluent speakers, there is
nothing in place to pass that fluency on to the next generations."

The planned school will use traditional teaching philosophies as
well as the latest Lakota language educational materials provided by the
Lakota Language Consortium, a partner organization and award-winning
developer of Lakota textbooks. "Our elders from all across the community
will be an integral part of this school. Together with the parents, we
will create a new future for our children," says Little Finger.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Lakota Circle Village will be
held in Oglala, South Dakota on March 30, with entertainment provide by
Kevin Locke and several local drum groups. The event is free and open to
the public.

On the Web: www.lakhota.org

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CONTACT: Public Relations Director, Lakota Language Consortium,
812-340-3517, fax [phone], [e-mail]

South Dakota contact: 605-867-5374

Rapid City Contact: 605-341-4525

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