Dakota Translations

From their crude log cabin on the shores of Lake Calhoun, the brothers began to translate the Bible into the Dakota language, a task that took them, and the other missionaries to the Dakota, forty years to complete. There are more than two dozen of their translations in existence, most of which are available online. See table below.

Dakota
Translations

From their crude log cabin on the shores of Lake Calhoun, the brothers began to translate the Bible into the Dakota language, a task that took them, and the other missionaries to the Dakota, forty years to complete. There are more than two dozen of their translations in existence, most of which are available online. See table below.

YearDakota TitleEnglish TitlePublishing Information
1839Wotanin Wate Markus Owa KinThe Gospel According to Mark in the Dakota LanguageWillamson, Thomas Smith, and Joseph Renville. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall and Henry, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1839.
1839 Dakotaoyawa wowapi Otokahe kin The Dakota First Reading BookRiggs, Stephen Return, and Gideon H. Pond. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall and Henry, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1839.
1839Joseph Oyakapi KinThe History of Joseph, in the Language of the DakotaPond, Samuel William, and Gideon H. Pond. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall and Henry, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1839.
1839Otokahe Ekta Wakantanka Taku Owasin Kage Cin Qa Ix Genesis Eciyapi Qa, Odowan Wakan Qa Is Psam EciyapiExtracts from Genesis and the Pslams with the Third Chapter of Proverbs and the Third Chapter of Daniel in the Dakota LanguageWillamson, Thomas Smith, and Joseph Renville. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall and Henry, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1839.
1842Wicoicage Wowapi, Qa Odowan Wakan, Heberi Iapi Etanhan Kagapi, Pejihuta Wicaxta, Psincinca, Qa Tamakoce, Okagapi Kin Hena EepiThe Book of Genesis and a Part of the Psalms in the Dakota LanguageWilliamson, Thomas Smith, Stephen Return Riggs, Joseph R. Renville, and Gideon H. Pond. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall and Henry, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1842.
1842Dakota Dowanpi KinHymns in the Dakota or Sioux LanguageRenville, Joseph, Stephen Return Riggs, Alfred L. Riggs, Gideon H. Pond, Samuel W. Pond, and Thomas S. Williamson. Boston, Massachusetts: Crocker and Brewster, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1842.
1842Wowapi Inonpa. Wowapi Wakan Etanhan Taku Wanjikji Oyakapi Kin He DeeThe Second Dakota Reading BookPond, Samuel William. Boston, Massachusetts: Crocker & Brewster, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1842.
1843Wootanin Waxte Luka Qa Jan: Owapi Qon Hena Eepi NOTE: This text is attached to Williamson’s Book of Genesis. Go to page 161.The Gospels of Luke and John in the Dakota Language NOTE: This text is attached to Williamson’s Book of Genesis. Go to page 161.Pond, Gideon H., and Joseph Renville, Sr. Cincinnati, Ohio: Kendall and Barnard, printers for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1843. [Attached to Williamson's translation of Genesis. See page 161.]
1844Dakota Wiwangapi WowapiA Catechism in the Dakota or Sioux LanguagePond, Samuel William. New Haven, Connecticut: Hitchcock & Stafford, 1844.
1850Dakota Tawoonspe, Wowapi I - IIDakota Lessons, Book I and Book IIRiggs, Stephen Return. 2 vols. Louisville, Kentucky: Morton & Griswold, 1850.
1852Dakota title not availableGrammar and Dictionary of the Dakota LanguageRiggs, Stephen Return. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1852.
1852Dakota title not availableAn English and Dakota VocabularyAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. New York, New York: R. Craighead, 1852.
1852"Dakota Tawaxitku Kin" (.pdf download)"The Dakota Friend Newspaper" (.pdf download)Pond, Gideon H. 1850-1852.
1864Woonspe Itakihna. Ehakeun OkagaPrecept Upon PreceptRenville, John Baptiste, Stephen Return Riggs, and Favell Lee Mortimer. Boston, Massachusetts: American Tract Society,1864.
1868Dakota A B C Wowapi KinDakota A B C Wowapi KinRiggs, Stephen Return. New York, New York: American Tract Society, 1868.
1869Dakota OdowanHymns in the Dakota LanguageRiggs, Stephen Return, and John Poage Williamson. New York, New York: American Tract Society, 1869.
1871Psalm WowapiThe Book of Psalms in the Dakota LanguageRiggs, Stephen Return. New York, New York: American Bible Society, 1871.
1871Dakota Wowapi Wakan KinThe New Testament in the Dakota LanguageRiggs, Stephen Return. New York, New York: American Bible Society, 1871.
1872Woope Mowis Owa Kin Dakota Iapi En Pejuta Wicasta KagaThe Law Written by Moses in the Dakota LanguageWilliamson, Thomas S. New York, New York: American Bible Society, 1872.
1872Wicoicage, Hdinanpapi, Lewi Toope, Qa WicayawapiThe First Four Books of Moses in the Dakota LanguageWilliamson, Thomas S. New York, New York: American Bible Society, 1872.
1875Josuwa, Qa Wayacopi Kin, Qa Rute, Ohanyanpi Qon Oyakapi Wowapi KinThe Books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, in the Dakota LanguageWilliamson, Thomas S. New York, New York: American Bible Society.
1875Wayawa TokaheyaModel First ReaderRiggs, Stephen Return. Chicago, Illinois: G. Sherwood & Co., 1875.
1876Maka-OyakapiGuyot's Elementary Geography in the Dakota LanguageGuyot, A., Stephen Return Riggs, and Alfred Longley Riggs. .  New York, New York: Scribner, Armstrong, & Co., 1876.
1877He Tuwe HeHymnRiggs, Stephen Return. Chicago, Illinois: Republican Print, 1877.
1882Dakota Wiwicawangapi KinDakota CatechismRiggs, Stephen R. New York, New York: American Tract Society, 1882.
1887Dakota Wowapi WakanThe Holy Bible in the Language of the DakotaWilliamson, Thomas S., and Stephen Return Riggs. New York, New York: American Bible Society, 1887.
1892Cante TecaThe Pilgrim's ProgressBunyan, John, and Stephen Return Riggs. New York, New York: American Tract Society, 1892.
1893Dakota title not availableDakota Grammar, Texts, and EthnographyRiggs, Stephen Return, and James Owen Dorsey. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1893.
1902Wasicun Ka Dakota Ieska WowapiAn English-Dakota DictionaryWilliamson, John Poage. New York, New York: American Tract Society, 1902.
© 2023 Pond Dakota Heritage Society
© 2023 Pond Dakota Heritage Society