Meet Jaileen: Guiding Young Learners with Technology and Lakota Values
At Oceti Sakowin Community Academy, learning is guided by language, kinship, and wisdom of ancestors. In this community-rooted space, Jaileen Navarro introduces technology to the school’s youngest learners, kindergarten through third grade. Her work embodies the mission of Indigitize where youth weave together technology and Indigenous tradition to build a better future.
“What inspired me to become a SkoCode educator was wanting to create opportunities I never had growing up. Being a woman of Oglala Lakota and Mexican heritage, I didn’t always see people who looked like me in the classroom, especially in computer science or STEM fields. Finding SkoCode felt like a way to honor my culture and give back to my community.”
- Jaileen
Learning Through Culture, Language, and Play
In Jaileen’s classroom, early technology learning is rooted in the school's values. When students learn to use a mouse, explore drawing tools, or create simple digital project, they are also learning:
Wóksape (Wisdom): Students take ownership of their learning and bring their own genius into the classroom.
Wowacintanka (Fortitude): They learn to persevere through challenges, even when something feels hard.
Woohitika (Bravery): They are encouraged to speak up, take risks, and try new skills.
Wacantognaka (Generosity): They help each other and celebrate one another’s successes.
“I make sure culture isn’t just an add-on. It’s the foundation. We talk about respect, kinship, and how technology can help us protect stories and land knowledge, and I make sure to use our language in our daily routines. I also invite students to share how computer science and technology can help their families and community. It’s all about showing that tech can serve Indigenous ways of thinking, not replace them.”
-Jaileen
Where the Journey Begins
“My goal for my students is to help them see themselves as capable creators, not just users of technology.” says Jaileen. She does this through hands-on, story-based and playful activities that build comfort with technology. She uses familiar cultural concepts like beading patterns or Lakota star knowledge to introduce early technological concepts such as patterns and sequencing. These early learning experiences are planting the seeds for future digital fluency, while also strengthening each student’s identity.
Investing in Language, Culture, and the Future
Through SkoCode and Indigitize, educators like Jaileen are creating learning spaces where technology and Native identity stand together. This is more than a computer class. It is an investment in language, sovereignty, and future leaders. Jaileen shared: “Our community is full of creativity, confidence, hope, laughter, and strong voices. Our students remind us there’s beauty in the way we look out for one another. That’s what I carry into my classroom every day.”
