Waḳaƞyeża C̣aƞkuya Wóoḳiye

Title: Waḳaƞyeża C̣aƞkuya Wóoḳiye

Reports to: Education/Mental Health/Disabilities Specialist

Position: Temporary Full-Time August 2024-June 30, 2026

Wage: $19.00 Full Time

Waḳaƞyeża C̣aƞkuya Wawokiya Position:

The Waḳaƞyeża C̣aƞkuya Wooḳiye, under the supervision of the Education/Mental Health/Disabilities Specialist and in collaboration with the Lower Sioux Health Care Center and the Lower Sioux Education Department, will be in charge of helping create the pathway for Lower Sioux Indian Community children to have access to high quality early childhood education, obtain their screenings and are accounted for, and have access to culturally relevant Dakota language resources. In year 1, they will grow in their knowledge of Early Childhood systems, the Lower Sioux software system, early childhood screenings, and the Dakota language. In year 2, they will grow from their knowledge a pathway for the waḳaƞyeża (sacred beings/children) and huƞkake (parents) to connect to high quality early childhood education, screenings, and have access to their Dakota Iapi (Dakota language).

Duties:

• Ensures that the center environment is welcoming to children, families, staff, and visitors
• Speaks and role models Dakota language with all staff, families, and children to promote and sustain a Dakota language learning environment

• Review Early Childhood List and Pathways including DYC, MDH, MDE, CWOO, LSIC, and DHS
• Create and Update Early Childhood Pathways List for LSIC
• Train on LSIC new Education Software System to learn how to create plan for each birth to 5-year-old Tribal Members
• Create Policy and Procedure to input new child for Early Childhood, include ROI and how LSIC will begin child’s plan
• Submit P&P to Tribal Council for approval
• Review all forms of communication to Early Childhood for Screenings for LSIC members, see how C̣aƞkuya can support and help connect all resources to mainstream
• Train on Early Childhood Screenings and how CWOO conducts and how LSIC Clinic conducts
• Begin Dakota Language and Culture Training with Master Speaker
• Review Dakota Language Resources from Lower Sioux, Sisseton, Sioux Valley, and other Communities on what material is available
• Create list on what is needed, what can translate, what will need to be created, and what resources work for health, immersion and non-immersion settings
• Create Schedule for Creation of Materials
• Train on Adobe Creation including how to make Dakota keyboard on Adobe
• Train on Language Acquisition in Early Childhood
• Begin Creating Materials
• Share Materials in Community at Health Fairs, and in Community Resource Areas, on website, to Early Childhood systems, and to other Dakota Tribes
• Host Ṫiṭokaƞpi – Visiting Language Tables times to share Resources and Language Teachings
• Announce Updates to LSIC Community at Community Meeting
• Send invitation to Health Fair to all birth to 5-year-old children
• Host table to share ROI information to begin children’s C̣aƞkuya Pathway in Software System, share pathways list, and share screening information
• Contact any child not at Health Fairs to ensure all birth to 5-year-old have access to Early Childhood Systems and C̣aƞkuya for birth to 5-year-olds
• Begin Creation of C̣aƞkuya Pathways in Software from ROI, begin running reports to analyze new system, and begin checking off if they attend an Early Childhood program or were offered

• Host Health Fairs to begin screening children Substitute in Classroom while Language Nest Apprentices go to Master Apprentice Program with Master Speaker starting in Fall 2024.

Skills, Knowledge and Attributes:

• Computer Skills
• Must keep confidentiality
• Excellent Communication and Organizational Skills
• Experience working in an office, with children/infants and minor maintenance experience
• Ability to lift and carry objects weighing 20 to 60 lbs
• Openness to learn language and grow children, families, teachers, and Community together in Dakota Language
• Fluency in Dakota Language or willingness to learn and grow fluency to intermediate-mid
• Experience teaching Dakota Language and culture preferred

Experience:

Have prior experience with writing reports, coordinating multiple people on a project, working independently on finishing tasks, and ability to track and analyze data. Have knowledge and experience in the philosophy and practices in one of the following, Early Head Start /Head Start (or comparable child development programs), early childhood education, developmentally appropriate practice, and Dakota language, or developing pathways to grow and implement policy. Proof of a physical examination within the last six months, which includes a tuberculosis test, and comply with other background checks as required by the Agency and/or DCFS licensing respect for children and adults, flexibility, patience, good personal hygiene, and physical and mental health which does not interfere with responsibilities; and have education or experience in collaborating with parents in the education of their children.

Disclaimer
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job.  While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management and Community Tribal Council reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs or technical developments).

In accepting employment, I am agreeing to perform the duties and responsibilities listed above.  In addition, I agree to adhere to any policy or procedure changes that may occur during my employment with the Lower Sioux Indian Community.