Esther Martinez Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Esther Martinez
P’oe Tsáwä

Born	1912 Ignacio, Colorado, U.S.
Died	September 16, 2006 (aged 94) Española, New Mexico, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Estefanita Martinez, "Ko'oe Esther"
Education	Santa Fe Indian School, Albuquerque Indian School
Occupation	Linguist, teacher in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
Known for	Dedication to preserving the Tewa language
Children	10
Relatives	Grandson, Dr. Matthew J. Martinez Sister, Bertha Burck
Awards	National Heritage Fellowship (2006), others

Esther Martinez (1912 – September 16, 2006) was a special person who worked hard to save her language. She was a linguist and storyteller for the Tewa people of New Mexico.

Her Tewa name was P’oe Tsáwä, which means "Blue Water." People also called her "Ko'oe Esther" or "Aunt Esther." She lived to be 94 years old. Esther Martinez was known for her strong commitment to preserving the Tewa language. Her important book, San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary, was published in 1982.

Who Was Esther Martinez?
Her Lasting Impact
Awards and Honors
Gallery
See also

Who Was Esther Martinez?

Esther Martinez grew up in the Southwest United States. She was born in Ignacio, Colorado. She lived there with her parents for a while. Later, she moved to Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico to live with her grandparents.

Esther loved her grandparents very much. She once wrote:

If you have grandparents to talk to, you are very lucky. I learned so much from mine. My grandfather was a storyteller. Native American people learn important lessons from the stories they hear as children. Many of our stories help us learn and grow.

Her Education and Early Life

Esther Martinez went to the Santa Fe Indian School. She also attended the Albuquerque Indian School. She graduated from the Albuquerque Indian School in 1930.

Her grandson, Matthew J. Martinez, shared how strong she was. He said that even though boarding schools could be tough, she never gave up. She still wanted to keep her language and culture alive. She worked hard to document it and pass it on to others. New Mexico's first lady, Barbara Richardson, even said that Esther "almost single-handedly saved the Tewa language."

After finishing school, Esther raised ten children. She also worked many jobs, like cooking and cleaning.

Working to Save the Tewa Language

In the mid-1960s, Esther met a linguist named Randall Speirs. She was working at a middle school at the time. Randall asked for her help to write down the Tewa language. She worked with him through the 1960s and 1970s. Together, they created a Tewa language dictionary.

From about 1974 to 1989, Esther Martinez taught Tewa in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. She also helped translate the New Testament into Tewa. This was done with the Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Esther also wrote a collection of stories. It was called My Life In San Juan Pueblo: Stories of Esther Martinez. This book was published in 2004 and won an award. In 2006, she received an honorary degree from Northern New Mexico College. She also worked as a traditional storyteller for the National Park Service.

A Tragic Loss

On September 16, 2006, Esther Martinez was coming home. She had just been to Washington, D.C. There, she received a special award called the National Heritage Fellowship. This award is one of the highest honors in folk and traditional arts.

Sadly, near Española, New Mexico, the car she was in was hit by another vehicle. Esther Martinez was killed in the accident. It happened only a few miles from her home.

Her Lasting Impact

Esther Martinez left a very important legacy. In December 2006, a new law was created. It was named the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act. This law helps provide money for programs. These programs help Native American tribes save their languages and cultures. Lawmakers in New Mexico have worked to keep this program going.

Her San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary is very special. Melissa Axelrod, a linguistics professor, called it "one of the most remarkable efforts" to document a language that was in danger of being lost. She said it has lots of words, grammar, and cultural details.

As of 2008, Esther's grandson, Dr. Matthew J. Martinez, continues her work. He helps with the Ohkay Owingeh School Board. He supports the Tewa language classes there.

Awards and Honors

Esther Martinez received many awards for her important work:

On November 8, 2008, a New Mexico State Historic Marker was put up in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. It was dedicated to Esther Martinez.
She received a 2006 National Heritage Fellowship. This is the highest honor in the United States for folk and traditional arts.
She earned an honorary Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern New Mexico College in 2006.
She received the Indigenous Language Institute Award for "Those Who Make a Difference" in 1999.
She won the New Mexico Arts Commission Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1998.
She was given the Indian Education Award for Teacher of the Year from the National Council of American Indians.
She received the National Council of American Indians, Woman of the Year Award in 1997.
She was given the Living Treasure Award from the State of New Mexico in 1996.
She won the Pioneer Award from the National Association for Bilingual Education in 1992.