Man pleads guilty to killing Tewa storyteller

Tuesday, February 27, 2007  

A Mexican national faces up to six years in prison for pleading guilty to killing Esther Martinez, a nationally-recognized Tewa linguist and storyteller.

Jamie Martinez Gonzales, 45, was drunk when his vehicle plowed head-on into a pickup carrying Martinez and her daughters on September 16, 2005.. Martinez was on her way home to Ohkay Owingeh from Washington, D.C., where she accepted a National Heritage Fellowship for her Tewa language efforts.

Martinez, who taught Tewa to generations of Pueblo children, was 94.

Get the Story:
Man pleads guilty to killing Tewa storyteller (The Santa Fe New Mexican 2/26)
pwpwd

Native Languages Bill:
Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act (H.R.4766)

2006 National Heritage Fellowships:
Bio: Esther Martinez | List of Recipients

Native language act signed into law by Bush (12/15)
Native language bill finally clears Congress (12/8)
Esther Martinez language act up for House vote (09/25)
Man arraigned for crash that killed Pueblo storyteller (9/22)
Hundreds pay tribute to Pueblo storyteller, linguist (9/21)
Man charged with death of Pueblo storyteller (9/20)
Funeral for Esther Martinez set for Wednesday (9/19)
Esther Martinez, linguist and storyteller, dies at 94 (9/18)
Pueblo woman keeps Tewa language, culture alive (08/28)
Pueblo woman wins National Heritage Fellowship (06/16)