A lack of a Native American studies program at this university hasn’t stopped some students from learning the Lakota language.

“Learn how to spit out a loogie,” William Underbaggage told students yesterday afternoon, describing how to pronounce “tunkashila” — or grandfather — in the proper guttural method.

A group of about a half-dozen students and faculty members gathered in the Armory as the fifth of 10 lessons on Lakota language and culture from Underbaggage, a member of the South Dakota-based Native American nation.

“It’s more about learning words and customs and philosophies and culture,” said Xenia Strunnikova, a senior finance major who attended yesterday’s class. “It’s not about being fluent in the language; it’s about understanding.”

Strunnikova, who has attended all but one of Underbaggage’s lessons, is a member of the small but committed group of students and faculty members who want to see more formal courses on Native American studies and to apply a few existing courses toward a minor in the subject.

“Right now, we’re just trying to start off, so we’re trying to get survey courses down and just interesting courses that people will want to take at the beginning,” Strunnikova said. “We would eventually want to see some type of language study in it because it’s important.”

Although it’s not a formal course, Underbaggage was able to use this series to start teaching immediately, which corresponded with his urgency to educate about indigenous languages.

A cultural ambassador and teacher of Lakota for more than 15 years, Underbaggage pointed out the disconnect between communicating with native languages and just using words for ritual purposes, a reason he finds it vital to educate mainstream society.

“The [Lakota] language is not being spoken; it’s being lost very rapidly,” he said. Lakota is just one of many native languages facing that fate.

“By learning Lakota, students also will be part of a global movement to help preserve languages that are endangered by the spread of global commercial culture via English,” Phil Tajitsu Nash, a professor of Asian American studies, wrote in an e-mail.

If a Native American studies program succeeds at this university, there could be a possibility for a language component like Lakota in the future. That component could also incorporate the handful of existing indigenous language courses: Amazonian poetry and Quechua, a native language of Ecuador and Peru.

In his Sunday classes, Underbaggage speaks in his native Lakota and then translates the words to English.

“I have to explain myself simultaneously,” he said.

Though Underbaggage is teaching people outside of his nation, he doesn’t promote an intimidating environment for students.

“He has a really holistic style of teaching,” Strunnikova said. “It’s not like a regular lecture where you start from point A and you’re getting to point B. He tries to make it relevant for people, which I think is really powerful.”

Underbaggage, who said he is a seventh-generation descendent of legendary war chief Sitting Bull, chose to teach the Lakota language and culture to people outside the nation because of common ignorance.

“At one point, the Lakota language and the people were almost thought to be on the edge of extinction,” he said. “I try to make people aware that we are a people, we are humans and that we have feelings, emotions and a very strong culture.”

Attendees at the classes said their interest in Underbaggage’s courses stems from variety of reasons.

“His teaching has a good message for people, it’s very positive, and he makes people feel welcome — I think that’s the draw,” Strunnikova said.

Nash said it’s important for students to study diversity outside formal academia.

“Learning to learn and learning to see through a variety of cultural lenses are two of the most valuable gifts we can give graduating [students] in a world that is changing so rapidly,” Nash wrote.

At the end of yesterday’s class, Underbaggage wished his students the Lakota form of farewell: “Tohksh ake ichanni; again we’ll see you soon.”

The classes meet Sundays through April 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. in room 0117 of the Armory.

marcot at umdbk dot com