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Fluent Arikara speaker dies

By The Associated Press

WHITE SHIELD, N.D. (AP) – The Three Affiliated Tribes in North Dakota says one of the remaining few elders who could teach the Arikara language has died.

Maude Starr, whose American Indian name meant Yellow Calf Woman, died Jan. 20 at the age of 71. Her funeral was held Jan. 27 in the Fort Berthold Reservation community of White Shield.

Starr held a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Dakota. The tribe, which has members of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara, said she was one of only a handful of educators with the skills to teach the Sahnish, or Arikara, language.

Starr taught the language and culture to young people through school programs.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Monday, Feb 8 at 4:28 PM Dine' Reader wrote ...

Condolenses to the family and people. Those remaining,who are gifted with the language, please continue your learning and teach to the families and your babies as this is where our collective cultures sustained tremendous damage via government policy. Ms. Starr has passed on her knowledge and culture to those she taught, now it is their time. The people are the determinants of culture and language.I'm sure she was an excellent teacher, so be strong and determined in revitalizing your heritage.

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