Theresa Lamebull

Theresa Elizabeth (Chandler) White Weasel Walker Lamebull (April 19, 1896? – August 10, 2007) was reputedly a supercentenarian believed to have been 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).

Theresa Elizabeth (Chandler) White Weasel Walker Lamebull
BeeKanHay ("Kills At Night")
Born
Theresa Elizabeth Chandler

(1896-04-19)April 19, 1896 (claimed)
Near Hays, Montana
Died(2007-08-10)August 10, 2007
Havre, Montana
NationalityAmerican
Known forClaimed to live to be 111, fluent speaker of the Gros Ventre language
Spouse(s)John Walker, d. 1962; Andrew Lamebull
ChildrenTen children with John Walker

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 Gros Ventre language, spoken by only a handful of other people. She taught the language at Fort Belknap College, and helped develop a dictionary using the Phraselator when she was 109.[3]

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 2007 at the claimed age of 111.[4] A funeral Mass was held at St. Paul's Catholic Gymnasium in Hays, Montana, and she was buried at Mission Cemetery.[5]

References
  1. Ogden, Karen (2006-09-17). "Gros Ventre woman, 110, a living bridge to the 'buffalo days'" (Reprint). Great Falls Tribune.
  2. "Hays woman dies at 111". Billings Gazette. 2007-08-14.
  3. "The Phraselator II". The American Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  4. "Lamebull leaves behind strong legacy, example". Great Falls Tribune. 2006-08-16.
  5. "Lamebull, Theresa: Passes on at 111 (Gros Ventre)". Indian Country News. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  • 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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