Theresa Lamebull facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theresa Elizabeth (Chandler) White Weasel Walker Lamebull
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|---|---|
| BeeKanHay ("Kills At Night") | |
| Born |
Theresa Elizabeth Chandler
April 19, 1896 (claimed) Near Hays, Montana
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| Died | August 10, 2007 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Claimed to live to be 111, fluent speaker of the Gros Ventre language |
| Spouse(s) | John Walker, d. 1962; Andrew Lamebull |
| Children | Ten children with John Walker |
Theresa Elizabeth Lamebull (born Theresa Elizabeth Chandler) was a remarkable woman from the Gros Ventre Tribe in Montana. She was known for living a very long life, possibly becoming one of the oldest Native Americans ever recorded. Her Native American name was "Kills At Night" (BeeKanHay). She was also very important for helping to keep her tribe's language alive.
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Who Was Theresa Lamebull?
Theresa Elizabeth Lamebull was born on April 19, 1896, near Hays, Montana. She was a member of the Gros Ventre Tribe. People believed she lived to be 111 years old. This would make her one of the oldest people in the world. She might even be the oldest Native American ever recorded.
How Old Was She Really?
For a long time, Theresa's family did not know her exact age. Around 2005, they found a baptism certificate. A priest translated the Latin on the paper. It said she was baptized in 1897 when she was one year old. This helped them figure out her birth year.
Keeping Her Language Alive
Theresa Lamebull was a fluent speaker of the Gros Ventre language. This language is very rare today. Only a few other people can speak it. Theresa worked hard to help teach the language. She taught at Fort Belknap College.
Helping with a Dictionary
When she was 109 years old, Theresa helped create a dictionary. She used a special device called a Phraselator. This device helps record and translate languages. Her work was very important for saving the Gros Ventre language.
Honoring Her Legacy
The Hays Education Resource Center was named after her. It is on the Fort Belknap Reservation. The center is now called the 'Kills At Night Center'. At the naming ceremony, a teacher sang a traditional song for her. The song was in the A'aninin (Gros Ventre) language. This showed how much she was respected.
Her Final Years
Theresa Lamebull passed away in August 2007. She was believed to be 111 years old. A special funeral Mass was held for her. It took place at St. Paul's Catholic Gymnasium in Hays, Montana. She was buried at Mission Cemetery. Her life was a gift to her family and her tribe.
