Lakota Star Knowledge App
Using mobile apps to teach traditional Lakota constellations.
The 1883 Court of Indian Offense made it illegal for Native Americans to practice their culture and speak their language. Max B. O’Connell, a journalist of the Rapid City Journal, reported that only 2,000 people speak Lakota language. This is disconcerting considering there are more than 82,000 members enrolled in the tribes of the Oceti Sakowin. United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization would classify Lakota language as a threatened language since only 3.65% of the people speak the language. Loss of a language may include loss of cultural and spiritual knowledge, traditional oral Lakota history, and cultural identity.
My project would teach traditional Lakota constellations through a mobile app design. Like other star maps and night sky constellation finder mobile apps, this app would provide Greek constellations, but also traditional Lakota constellations. The cultural significance, stories, and information regarding the stars of the constellation will be included. It is my dream this app also provides a version in which all of Lakota constellation cultural stories be told in Lakota language. Furthermore, I hope to provide information on fascinating celestial bodies, galaxies, and nebulas to entice Lakota youth in careers fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. More information on this app can be found at this link
https://youtu.be/QirWLWXQIys.
Tradition Lakota Star Knowledge can be accessed through books and documentaries. However, never before has it be offered through a modern platform. Never before has this information been accessible at the time in which one can appreciate our constellations; after sunset and outside. It is my desire this app piques interest in learning traditional Lakota knowledge, entice users to learn Lakota language, and inspire them to consider STEM professions. Furthermore, this app would offer marketing for Lakota language programs, services, and products. Many Lakota constellations take the form of patterns and symbolism that are on Lakota arts and crafts. This app would offer marketing services to artists to display their arts and crafts by way of mobile app commercials.
The anthropogenic research has been conducted. Stories have collected. Potential story tellers have been identified. I have a background in sound engineering to capture the stories. The constellations have been mapped and cataloged. A planetarium has been located that possesses these constellations. They have agreed to allow footage to be taken. Furthermore, I am completing my master’s degree in Management which has provided coursework in finance, marketing, and data analytics. I feel I possess a decent foundation for this startup, but I highly welcome assistance. However, my biggest obstacle is finding and contracting a mobile app designer who can populate constellations, upload the stories and information sets, and make it interactive for the user.
- Idea
I acquired the following technology to amplify Lakota Star Knowledge, Lakota language, and interests to S.T.E.M. Uniview Planetarium Software and the Night Sky app were used to populate constellations. A Canon 60D camera and an Orion SkyQuest XT8 telescope will be used for astrophotography. To capture cultural/constellation stories the following recording/sound engineering and video editing equipment/software includes: Lauten Audio Atlantis microphone, Pro Tools 11 recording software, Mbox audio interface, BAS20/20 Studio Monitors, Final Cut Pro video editor. Autodesk Animation Software will be used to animate Lakota constellations. I wish to partner with the makers of Sky View App, Terminal Eleven.
Traditional Lakota Star Knowledge is accessible through books and documentaries. However, never before has this information been offered through a modern platform and accessible at the time in which one appreciates constellations; after sunset and outside. This mobile app will not only populate Lakota constellations, but also use animation software to tell cultural significance and the fascinating stories related to them. This app will pique interest in learning traditional Lakota star knowledge/stories, entice users to learn Lakota language, and inspire them to consider STEM professions.
This app will be available through a number of avenues:
- Will offer commercials/marketing for L/N/Dakota artists and Lakota language programs, services, and products to supplement operational costs.
- Major emphasis will be placed on marketing to the European market
- An education version will offer free downloads to students. This will rely on service contract through academic institutions.
- Free downloads will be made available for visitors of the Journey museum (to support a partnership).
- Download purchase allows unlimited, commercial free access for nominal, one-time only fee.
- This will be advertised at powwows, art markets, social media, workshops, conferences, etc.
The project is non-operational and still in development stages. My initial target customers are members and non-native citizens residing the original Oceti Sakowin territory. The objective is to modernize and amplify Lakota culture and cultural knowledge, encourage/revitalize Lakota language, and stimulate interest in Native youth to astronomy and S.T.E.M. fields. Furthermore, this app would offer marketing for Lakota language programs, services, and products. Many Lakota constellations take the form of patterns and symbolism that are on Lakota arts and crafts. This app would offer marketing services to artists to display their arts/crafts by way of mobile app commercials.
Upon year’s end, my goal is to have all Lakota constellations narrated/recorded and have this mobile app in development. I wish to expand my market segment to the Santa Fe Art Market (the highest grossing Indian art market). By offering marketing/commercials for L/N/D/akota artists and language programs, this will consequently introduce them to the largest market segment that they otherwise might not reach. Catherine McCloskey reports that 80% of the $1.5 Billion fake Native American artwork is imported from Asian. Ultimately, I hope to reduce counterfeit Native artwork and cultural appropriation of Great Plains tribes/artists/cultures through advertisements and collaborations.
I have presented my research and ideas on a TEDxTalk in Rapid City, SD. My initial metallurgical engineering research was on Security Printing and Anti-Counterfeiting Technology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. This introduced me to the severity of counterfeit Native artwork and cultural appropriations. My deliverable was using vanadium upconverting nanoparticles to authenticate Native artwork. This information is available on my TEDxTalk (www.youtube.com/watch?v=QirWLWXQIys). My report is available upon request. Lastly, phase one of this mobile app was sponsored by the South Dakota NASA Space Grant Consortium.
My Lakota people experience the most impoverished conditions; compounded with socioeconomic oppression. Often times, all we have is culture and the night sky. MIT Solve can help the Oceti Sakowin gain the ability to merely look up and be reminded of our strength, perseverance, and identity. Furthermore, MIT Solve can connect me with software designers, investors, and markets that I otherwise would not have access to. By partnering with MIT Solve, this is app will be celebrated by the people because it is designed to advance knowledge and educate students in STEM to best serve the L/N/Dakota nation.
SD NASA Space Grant Consortium - Funded phase 1 of the project
The Journey Museum - Partnership allows me to use their Uniview Planetarium Software. Have previously volunteered for their musuem
Center for American Indian and Native Studies (CAIRNS) - Volunteered for various exhibits and was docent for shows. Studied Lakota Star Knowledge with CAIRNS material and Dr. Craig Howe
Oglala Lakota College - Initiated a student-led project to update software and design programs for their Science Engineering Mathematics Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) Lab. Connected South Dakota School of Mines & Technology professors with SEMMA Director for project concept.
I am open to working with any type of space exploration program. I would like to partner with observatories to capture pristine astrophotography images to offer to mobile app users. I would like to work with MIT Space System Laboratory to show videos of cutting technology and research and illustrate how Native youth can participate in such research. I work like to work professors from the Sloan School of Management to learn how to best market this product. Furthermore, I would like to learn how to evolve this concept to be more education-based while monetizing this app.
