NORTHWEST INDIAN DIALECTS

SAHAPTIN LANGUAGE - YAKAMA DIALECT

The following information would not have been possible without the guidance and help of Teresa "Ana-hoo-ey" Kurtzhall, of Yakama, who contacted Virginia Beavert for permission to use some of the words from the following publication. Teresa then donated her time to transcribe them.

Sahaptin Yakama Dialect Practical Dictionary by Virginia R. Beavert:
Virginia Beavert is a former student of Dr. Melville JACOBS, Linguist at the University of Washington. Virginia served four years in the Unites States Air Force, attended four years of college, worked for three years at the Atomic Energy Commission, and worked in Medical Records in various local hospitals.

Alexander William SALUSKIN, a.k.a. Chief WIT-AWIKT, 1893 - 1973, originally undertook the Sahaptin Practical Dictionary for Yakama, but due to poor health was unable to complete the task. Virginia took care of Alex for several years, seeing his dream of reviving the language & worrying about them losing their values & heritage. Virginia took it upon herself to take up his works. The Dictionary was first published in 1975 with Linguistic Consultant: Dr. Bruce BIXBY, a.k.a. LUT'ALIMTAX - "Red Head", Professor of Anthropology at the University of Queensland, Australia and Illustrator: LeRoy COLFAX.

Circa 1985 Virginia R. BEAVERT of the Yakama's was the Coordinator & research writer of the Sahaptin Yakama Dialect Practical Dictionary. B-lingual in ten Indian dialects:

Taytnapam, Naxchiish, Klickitat, Skiinpam, Pshwanapam, Cowlitz, Wanapum, Palus, Wayampam, Columbia River dialects and Umatilla & Warm Springs languages of Oregon.

Virginia Beavert is currently updating this publication and has graciously allowed me to display some of the nouns on my web site.

Sahaptin Language-Yakama Dialect

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