Yakama Elder Tuxámshish, Dr. Virginia Beavert receives award!

Tuxámshish Virginia Beavert, advocate for language revitalization, speaker of her language Ichishkíin receives the Ken Hale Memorial Lecture distinction from the American Indian Language Development Institute (AILDI) in November 2021, weeks before celebrating her 100th birthday! This award, in memory of Linguist Ken Hale who advocated and made a way for language revitalization across the United States, recognizes the exemplary and inspirational work Virginia has done for her language of Yakima/Yakama Sahaptin.

Virginia’s perseverance and support for language work has impacted many language warriors across Turtle Island. We commend and thank you for your work and the inspiration you have been to us all.

Thanks to UO Professor Torsten Kjellstrand, you can view photos from Tuxámshish 100th birthday celebration here.