The Mahpiya Luta girls basketball team will take a trip to Hawaii on July 27-Aug. 2.

But the trip will be about more than just basketball. 

Mahpiya Luta assistant girls basketball coach Amanda Carlow is finishing her PhD dissertation through the University of Hawaii-Hilo, specializing in Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization.

“My research is actually using Lakota language and culture to empower self identity with young Lakota women,” Carlow said. “Part of my research is about the basketball team and so we were talking about having the girls go down there because of their language revitalization.”

Hawaiian and Indigenous Language and Culture Revitalization is the first doctorate in the world specific to the growing field of Indigenous language and culture revitalization. It engages candidates in research in linguistics, language planning, culture, and education to strengthen language and cultural vibrancy within their communities. 

“They have a really good program for our girls to be able to see and kind of be more empowered by seeing their own peers, their own age being able to speak fluently or proficiently with each other,” Carlow said. 

The Mahpiya Luta girls basketball conducted individual workouts to to raise money for its trip to Hawaii. (Courtesy photo)

Carlow said the trip’s main objectives are to empower the players and their self identity as young Lakota women, while also demonstrating how powerful their language can be. 

“Whatever they decide to do after they finish at Mahpiya Luta,” Carlow said. “They will be out in the world and they will know who they are as young Lakota women. But another piece is empowering them to be proficient Lakota language speakers, and showing them it’s not just in the classroom where they can use the language. That they can use it in all things that they do. That’s one of the big things of why we want them to go there and see how the language is used everywhere in Hilo. It’s not just in the classroom. It’s not just in someone’s house. But it’s everywhere they go.” 

The trip will include presentations through Lakota language and campus visits, along with touring Hawaiian landmarks like a local volcano and an astronomy center. Mahpiya Luta will also mix in some basketball workouts and there’s a local 3-on-3 tournament the girls will try to enter. 

The Mahpiya Luta girls basketball conducted individual workouts to to raise money for its trip to Hawaii. (Courtesy photo)

Carlow said the trip will be rewarding for everyone involved to experience Hawaii’s culture and scenery. 

“They are going to see a ton of things, meet a lot of people and then get to share their experience too as young Lakota women and what their experience is like on the Rez here,” Carlow said. “They are going to get to see things that they don’t see everyday, a different outlook on life. It is more of a culture exchange than it is for basketball. But the good thing is we get to tie it into their trip as well.” 

The group includes 19 girls basketball players and three chaperones. The players have been raising money for more than a year, including organizing a tournament, conducting individual workouts, hosting a shootathon and selling Mahpiya Luta merchandise. 

The players will chronicle their trip through social media platforms and will post vlog updates using the Lakota language.