Thompson was the oldest living Yurok and the last known native-born, active speaker of the Yurok language at the time of his death in 2013.[1] He was the last of about twenty Yurok elders who worked to revitalize the Yurok language.[1] He worked with academics and linguists to preserve and revitalize the language among younger Yurok generations throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Those same linguists had originally predicted that Yurok would be extinct by 2010 and Thompson received much of the credit for saving the language.[1] Yurok is now taught in five high schools throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties in northern California.[1] While the language is still endangered, the effort to preserve Yurok is considered to be the most successful revitalization effort in California.[1]
Thompson was born in a smokehouse on May 26, 1919, in Wa'tek Village (now known as Johnsons, California) in Humboldt County.[1] He was sent to a government school in Hoopa, California, when he was five years old, where he was discouraged from speaking Yurok.[1] He returned home when he was eight years old. He was taken in by his grandmother, Rosie Jack Hoppell.[1] Thompson was raised by his grandmother, who only spoke Yurok in her home, and his uncle. His relatives raised him in a traditional Yurok lifestyle.[1] As a child, Thompson trapped ducks to fill feather mattresses, harvested seaweed, fished for eulachon and salmon, and tracked elk.[1]
Thompson and his wife, Alta McCash, a member of the Karuk people, moved to Crescent City in 1959.[1] The couple had eight children before Alta died from complications of a fall in 1968.[1]
HonorsEdit
In 2009, Thompson was awarded the Silver Honor in the Mentor Category from the MetLife Foundation and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at a ceremony held in Washington D.C.[2]
Death and legacyEdit
Archie Thompson died at a hospital in Crescent City on March 26, 2013, at the age of 93.[1] He was survived by eight children, twenty-nine grandchildren, seventy-two great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren, and one sister.[1]
NotesEdit
^ abcdefghijklmnopqRomney, Lee (2013-04-07). "Archie Thompson dies at 93; Yurok elder kept tribal tongue alive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
^ abSpencer, Adam (2013-04-03). . Del Norte Triplicate. Archived from the original on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2013-05-15.
August 29, 2023
archie, thompson, yurok, archie, thompson, 1919, march, 2013, american, yurok, elder, yurok, largest, native, american, tribe, state, california, with, approximately, members, thompson, oldest, living, yurok, last, known, native, born, active, speaker, yurok, . Archie Thompson May 26 1919 March 26 2013 was an American Yurok elder The Yurok are the largest Native American tribe in the U S state of California with approximately 6 000 members 1 2 Thompson was the oldest living Yurok and the last known native born active speaker of the Yurok language at the time of his death in 2013 1 He was the last of about twenty Yurok elders who worked to revitalize the Yurok language 1 He worked with academics and linguists to preserve and revitalize the language among younger Yurok generations throughout the 1990s and 2000s Those same linguists had originally predicted that Yurok would be extinct by 2010 and Thompson received much of the credit for saving the language 1 Yurok is now taught in five high schools throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties in northern California 1 While the language is still endangered the effort to preserve Yurok is considered to be the most successful revitalization effort in California 1 Contents 1 Childhood 2 Education and military service 3 Personal life 4 Honors 5 Death and legacy 6 NotesChildhood EditThompson was born in a smokehouse on May 26 1919 in Wa tek Village now known as Johnsons California in Humboldt County 1 He was sent to a government school in Hoopa California when he was five years old where he was discouraged from speaking Yurok 1 He returned home when he was eight years old He was taken in by his grandmother Rosie Jack Hoppell 1 Thompson was raised by his grandmother who only spoke Yurok in her home and his uncle His relatives raised him in a traditional Yurok lifestyle 1 As a child Thompson trapped ducks to fill feather mattresses harvested seaweed fished for eulachon and salmon and tracked elk 1 Education and military service EditThompson earned varsity letters in football basketball baseball and track at Del Norte High School in Crescent City California from which he graduated in 1939 1 Thompson was one of the first Native American students to have his name engraved on the Del Norte H S Coach s Cup a school award which honors exception skills in multiple athletic sports 1 He attended the Sherman Institute a Native American boarding school in Riverside California now known as Sherman Indian High School where he learned welding He served in the United States Navy during World War II and was sent to the South Pacific Personal life EditThompson and his wife Alta McCash a member of the Karuk people moved to Crescent City in 1959 1 The couple had eight children before Alta died from complications of a fall in 1968 1 Honors EditIn 2009 Thompson was awarded the Silver Honor in the Mentor Category from the MetLife Foundation and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging at a ceremony held in Washington D C 2 Death and legacy EditArchie Thompson died at a hospital in Crescent City on March 26 2013 at the age of 93 1 He was survived by eight children twenty nine grandchildren seventy two great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren and one sister 1 Notes Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Romney Lee 2013 04 07 Archie Thompson dies at 93 Yurok elder kept tribal tongue alive Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2013 05 15 a b Spencer Adam 2013 04 03 Elder leaves legacy of language love Del Norte Triplicate Archived from the original on 2016 03 09 Retrieved 2013 05 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Archie Thompson Yurok amp oldid 1116947080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
