Germany's King of Rock to Assist Native American Children (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

Wed Mar 22 14:33:49 2006 Pacific Time
Germany's King of Rock to Assist Native American Children
http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?ascribeid=20060322.142515&time=14%2033%20PST&year=2006&public=0
       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: http://www.lakhota.org
       - - - -
       CONTACT: Public Relations Director, Lakota Language Consortium,
812-340-3517, fax 812-857-4482, news at lakhota.org
       South Dakota contact: 605-867-5374
       Rapid City Contact: 605-341-4525
       NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution images of individuals mentioned
in article and of revitalization activities available upon request. Please send
an email to news at lakhota.org with "IMAGE REQUEST" in the subject field.
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