RW Schools Dakota Language Grant

Red Wing Public Schools has received the Minnesota Department of Education’s Native Language Revitalization Grant for the 2025-2026 school year.

The grant is for the expansion of Dakota language into our elementary schools.

This grant allows the District to hire a K-7 language teacher who also is developing curriculum. Perry Fernands is offering immersion programming for Indigenous students in the morning and she will occasionally be visiting all K-7 classes during the year.

Her experience in teaching Dakhód’iapi – the Dakota language – was in a full immersion setting at the University of Minnesota's Dakota Language Nest preschool classroom, as well as teaching adult beginner language classes, elementary field trips, and family day-camps with learners of all ages.

Red Wing High School offers Dakota I, II, III as one of the World Language courses.

RWPS received this grant with the support of the Prairie Island Indian Bdewakantunwan Community.