THERESA LAMEBULL

'Theresa Elizabeth (Chandler) White Weasel Walker Lamebull' (her Indian name was Indian name was "Kills At Night" (BeeKanHay)) was a 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 her baptismal certificate. 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.
Theresa was honored for her dedication to her people's education at the Native Nexus conference held May 2006 in Bozeman, MT while she was still living. Her grandson, Robe Walker, brought her birth certificate and gave a heart-awakening description of Theresa's strength of spirit to live through so many changes in Indian life yet stay engaged and hopeful. Abaetern Academy presented Robe with a Pendleton blanket and gift basket to take back to Theresa with the appreciation of Montana teachers who are inspired by her example of never giving up on the education and success of those we love.
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.
Theresa may have been born in 1907.

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References

References

1. Gros Ventre woman, 110, a living bridge to the 'buffalo days' Karen Ogden
2. Hays woman dies at 111
3. Lamebull leaves behind strong legacy, example

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