The Hoocak Academy shared its language revitalization work during the 2026 Indigenous Language Summit, held June 18 in Stevens Point.

     Sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the summit brought together Indigenous language educators and programs.

     According to Education Coordinator Jessi Falcon, the Ho-Chunk Nation Language Division presented information on Hoocak Language Baseball, community language events, and other initiatives aimed at increasing opportunities for language learning.

     Hoocak Academy instructional teams also gave presentations on classroom programs and teaching approaches. One presentation focused on play-based learning, which uses the Hoocak language throughout daily classroom activities.

     Educators shared examples of how students develop language skills through games, interactions, and hands-on learning experiences.

     Presenters also provided updates on language archiving efforts. Historical language books and materials are being cataloged and digitized to improve preservation and accessibility. Physical copies are being managed through records preservation efforts while digital copies are being stored for long-term access.

     The day concluded with a Hoocak Language Baseball game, giving attendees an opportunity to see one of the language programs discussed during the summit in action.