Theresa Lamebull

Theresa Elizabeth (Chandler) White Weasel Walker Lamebull, (1896? – August 2007) was reputedly a supercentenarian 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] Her Indian name was "Kills At Night" (BeeKanHay).

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 as saying she was a year old when she was baptised in 1897.[2]

Lamebull was a fluent speaker of the language of the Gros Ventre (only a handful of other people speak it) and helped teach the language and develop a dictionary. She 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'aniiih (Gros Ventres) language teacher sang her a traditional song in the A'aniiih language.

She died in August 2007 at the claimed age of 111.[3] A funeral Mass was held at St. Paul's Catholic Gymnasium in Hays, and she was buried at Mission Cemetery.

References

  1. ^ Ogden, Karen (2006-09-17). "Gros Ventre woman, 110, a living bridge to the 'buffalo days'" (Reprint). Great Falls Tribune. http://milkriver.blogspot.com/2006/09/nat-living-bridge.html. 
  2. ^ "Hays woman dies at 111". Billings Gazette. 2007-08-14. http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/08/14/news/state/90-hays.txt. 
  3. ^ "Lamebull leaves behind strong legacy, example". Great Falls Tribune. 2006-08-16. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070816/OPINION/708160306. 

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