Háu Mitákuyepi! Owás’iŋna iyúškiŋyaŋ napé čhiyúzapi do. Dakhóta iá Šišókaduta emákiyapi do. Wašíču iá Joe Bendickson emákiyapi do. Damákhota. Sisíthuŋwaŋ ga Waȟpéthuŋwaŋ ga Bdewákhaŋthuŋwaŋ Oyáte emátaŋhaŋ. Bdé Hdakíŋyaŋ Owákpamni emátaŋhaŋ ga omáwapi. Mnísota Wóuŋspe Waŋkántuya ed Dakhóta Iápi uŋspéwičhawakhiye. Hináȟ Dakhóta Iápi kiŋ dé uŋspémič’ičhiye. Déčhamuŋ čha thokátakiya Dakhóta iápi kiŋ ičháǧe kta wačhíŋ. Thokátakiya wičhóičhaǧe šakówiŋ kiŋháŋ iápi kiŋ dé hduhá maúŋnipta wačhíŋ. Waŋná dé wóuŋspekhuwa ówičhawakiya héčhed hená iápi kiŋ dé pahípte ga t’iŋsyá hduzápte.

Hello my relatives! I happily shake all your hands. My Dakota name is Sisokaduta. My English name is Joe Bendickson. I am Dakota. I come from the Sisseton, Wahpeton, and Spirit Lake peoples. I am enrolled at Lake Traverse reservation. I teach Dakota language at the University of Minnesota. I’m still learning myself. I teach so the language will grow. In seven generations I want us have our language. I help students so that they will pick it up and hold on to it tightly.