Katherine Brown Joseph, the oldest member of the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe of Washington and the tribe's last fluent speaker of Lushootseed, died Wednesday. She was 91.

The entire reservation was in mourning after learning of Joseph's death. "It's an incalculable loss," Toby Langen of the Tulalip Tribes said.

Joseph raised nine children, served on the tribal council and worked to preserve the Lushootseed language. Fewer than 20 fluent speakers, from 11 tribes, remain.

Get the Story:
Tribe mourns death of elder (The Everett Herald 9/14)

Relevant Links:
Sauk-Suiattle Tribe - http://www.sauk-suiattle.com