About
Life’s Language Lodge is a Language Nest, non-profit 501(c)3) established in 2019. Located on the southern end of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in north-central Montana, our program primarily serves children ages 0-5. LLL serves as vital childcare facility for the surrounding rural area while prioritizing the cultural values, practices and language of the Aaniiih and Nakoda people.
LLL has been guided by our vision and Mission statements. We strive to continue the work done before us by many language advocates and pioneers;both Aaniiih and Nakoda.
Through our languages, lifeways, and culture; Life’s Language Lodge empowers our children with strength, courage, and compassion to navigate life in the world in which we find ourselves. Financial stability contributes to a stable staff whose language competence is
growing. These positive developments have resulted in growing recognition within the Fort Belknap Indian Community, where community members now say this is where they want their children to go to school, and beyond through the increasing diversity of funding sources external to the Aaniiih and Nakoda Nations, helping to position LLL for a sustainable future.
MISSION STATEMENT
"TO REVITALIZE THE AANIIIH AND NAKODA LANGUAGES BY IMMERSING CHILDREN IN DAILY SPEAKING, LISTENING, AND CULTRAL TRADITIONS. TO FOSTER A SAFE INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIORMENT, ENSURING THE SURVIVAL AND CONTINUATION OF OUR IDENTITIY"
Vision Statement
BEHÍÍÍH BYIITƆ’Ɔ’Ɔ́WUH ’ÍITƆƆTƆƆH TƆWƆCINNÍTÉÉIH NÍÍΘÉNƆƆ’ NƆH NÉINƆƆ’ TƆWƆCINNÍTÁÁÁNIN’Ɔ TÉI’ÍTAAHAACH
MAKÁ IDÓMNI NAKÓN WICÓȞAGE OTÉȞIGE NO ADÉ INÁ NAMÁKODA ŽEMÁCA MNIHÉICIYA NO
"Everywhere on this earth it is difficult to be an upright person at peace, my father and mother tell me that is who I am, I will take courage"