Sesostrie Youchigant facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sesostrie Youchigant
Born	c. 1870
Died	(1948-12-06)December 6, 1948
Other names	Sam Young

Sesostrie Youchigant, also known as Sam Young, was a very important leader of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe. He was born around 1870 and passed away on December 6, 1948. He is remembered as the last person who spoke the Tunica language fluently.

A Special Leader and Language Keeper

Sesostrie Youchigant played a key role in his community. He was a chief of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe, which is a group of Native American people. As a chief, he helped lead his people and keep their traditions alive.

The Tunica Language: A Precious Gift

The Tunica language was the native language of his tribe. Sesostrie Youchigant learned it when he was a child. For nearly 20 years, he was the only person who could speak Tunica fluently. This made him incredibly important for understanding and preserving the language. He also spoke Louisiana French as his first language and English.

Working to Save a Language

In 1933, a linguist named Mary Haas met with Sesostrie Youchigant. A linguist is a scientist who studies languages. Mary Haas visited him several times between 1933 and 1938. They worked together to write down what he remembered of the Tunica language. This was a huge effort to save the language from being lost forever.

What We Learned from Sesostrie Youchigant

Thanks to Sesostrie Youchigant, we know a lot about the Tunica language and his tribe's history. He shared many traditional stories. These stories told about his tribe's journeys and how they interacted with other tribes.

Mary Haas used their work together to write important books. Her 1935 book, A Grammar of the Tunica Language, explained how the language worked. Later, she published Tunica Texts (1950) and much of the Tunica Dictionary (1953). These books are based on the valuable information Sesostrie Youchigant shared. His efforts helped keep the Tunica language and culture alive for future generations.