Theresa Lamebull

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Theresa Elizabeth (Chandler) White Weasel Walker Lamebull (her Indian name was "Kills At Night" (BeeKanHay)) was a purported supercentenarian and believed to have been be the oldest living member of the Gros Ventre Tribe of Montana and possibly the Oldest Native American ever recorded.[1]

When she was born her people still lived in a traditional teepee village.

Lamebull's family hadn't known exactly how old she was until some time around 2005 when they found a baptismal certificate which may be hers. A priest translated the Latin on the certificate, which said she was 1 when she was baptized in 1897.[2]

Lamebull was a fluent speaker of Gros Ventre (only a handful of other people speak it) and helped teach the language and develop a dictionary.

Theresa was likely Montana's longest-lived teacher since statehood. The Hays Education Resource Center on the Fort Belknap Reservation was named the 'Kills At Night Center' in her honor and at the naming ceremony Terry Brockie, an A'aninin (Gros Ventres) language teacher sang her a traditional song in the A'aninin language.

She died in August of 2007 at the age of 111.[3]

A funeral Mass was held at St. Paul's Catholic Gymnasium in Hays, with burial at Mission Cemetery.

[edit] Age Issue

Theresa may have been born in 1907. The 1930 census lists a person who may be her as '23' years old. The 1922 Montana Indian census listed a person who may be her as as 15 years old as well.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ogden, Karen. "Gros Ventre woman, 110, a living bridge to the 'buffalo days'" (Reprint), Great Falls Tribune, 2006-09-17. 
  2. ^ "Hays woman dies at 111", Billings Gazette, 2006-08-14. 
  3. ^ "Lamebull leaves behind strong legacy, example", Great Falls Tribune, 2006-08-16. 

Direct conversation, Ivy Merriot, Director, Abaetern Academy, Bozeman, MT 9/5/2007
Direct Conversation, Marlene Werk, Director, Hays Education Resource Center (Kills At Night Center), Hays, Montana 2006
Direct Conversation, Sister Chris, St. Paul's Mission School, Hays, Montana 2005

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