Lakota (also
Lakhota,
Teton,
Teton Sioux) is a
Siouan language spoken by the
Lakota people of the
Sioux tribes. Though generally taught and considered by speakers as a separate language, Lakota is mutually intelligible with the other two languages (cf.
Dakota language), and is considered by most linguists one of the three major
varieties of the
Sioux language. The Lakota language represents one of the largest
Native American language speech communities in the United States, with approximately 6,000 speakers living mostly in northern plains states of
North Dakota and
South Dakota. There is a Lakota language program online available for children to use. There is also a Lakota Language Program with classes for children at Red Cloud Indian School.