Anthropologist and Linguist. A Yakama Indian, she is often credited with single-handedly saving the Yakama language (Ichishkíin or Sahaptin) from going extinct. She was born in a cave in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. She was the daughter of Ellen and stepfather Alex Saluskin, who worked to develop the Ichishkíin alphabet. They encouraged her to seek education and opportunities to teach their language to others. By age 12, she began working with linguists and anthropologists as a liaison and interpreter. In the 1940s, Beavert served in the Women's Army Corps in New Mexico during World War II for three years. In 1986, she graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. In 2000, she earned a master's of education in bilingual and bicultural education from the University of Arizona. At age 90, she earned a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Oregon, the university's oldest=ever graduate. She is the co-author of a dictionary of Sahaptin. She was a champion of understanding differences and nuances between diverse Native languages, cultures, and traditions.
Anthropologist and Linguist. A Yakama Indian, she is often credited with single-handedly saving the Yakama language (Ichishkíin or Sahaptin) from going extinct. She was born in a cave in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. She was the daughter of Ellen and stepfather Alex Saluskin, who worked to develop the Ichishkíin alphabet. They encouraged her to seek education and opportunities to teach their language to others. By age 12, she began working with linguists and anthropologists as a liaison and interpreter. In the 1940s, Beavert served in the Women's Army Corps in New Mexico during World War II for three years. In 1986, she graduated from Central Washington University with a bachelor's degree in anthropology. In 2000, she earned a master's of education in bilingual and bicultural education from the University of Arizona. At age 90, she earned a Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Oregon, the university's oldest=ever graduate. She is the co-author of a dictionary of Sahaptin. She was a champion of understanding differences and nuances between diverse Native languages, cultures, and traditions.
Bio by: HH
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