Berenstain Bears to speak Lakota, Dakota

FORT YATES, N.D. (AP) - What officials say is the first cartoon series presented in a Native American language will begin airing soon on public television networks in the Dakotas.

Twenty episodes of the animated Berenstain Bears have been translated into the Dakota and Lakota languages and recorded at a studio in Bismarck. The first public viewing was held Aug. 30 at the Standing Rock Sioux tribal chambers in Fort Yates. The series will begin broadcasting Sunday, in an effort to help children learn the endangered languages.

Sunshine Archambault-Carlow is the education manager for the tribe. She tells The Forum newspaper the Berenstain Bears were chosen for the project because each episode teaches children a life lesson that is compatible with Sioux culture.

The project involves the tribe, public broadcasting and the Lakota Language Consortium.

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