Edwin Benson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edwin Benson
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born | October 23, 1931 |
| Died | December 9, 2016 (aged 85) |
| Known for | Being the last native speaker of Mandan |
Edwin James Benson (born October 23, 1931 – died December 9, 2016) was a Native American educator. He was the very last person to speak the Mandan language as his first language. His Mandan name was Wéroke Wáatashe, which means Iron Bison.
Contents
A Life Dedicated to Language
Edwin Benson was born in a place called Elbowoods, North Dakota. This was on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. When he was young, his family had to move. This happened because the Garrison Dam was built. Their new home was in Twin Buttes, North Dakota.
Teaching the Mandan Language
Edwin Benson became a teacher. He taught the Mandan language at Twin Buttes Elementary School. He worked hard to share his language with younger generations. He wanted to make sure the language would live on.
In 2009, he received a special honor. The University of North Dakota gave him an honorary doctorate degree. This was to recognize his important work.
The Last Speaker
Edwin Benson was the last person who grew up speaking Mandan. He worked to teach the basics of the language to young people. Sadly, when he passed away on December 9, 2016, the Mandan language became extinct. This means there were no more native speakers left.
Remembering the Language
A documentary film called To Save a Language was made in 2020. This film showed the efforts of a linguist. A linguist is someone who studies languages. The film explored how this person tried to learn and save the Mandan language.
