Elizabeth Phillips (Stó:lō Nation elder)

Siyamiyateliyot Elizabeth Phillips dem born  am insyd 1939 for Cheam First Nation of British Columbia wey dey Canada. She be Stó:lō Nation elder den de last fluent speaker of Halq’emeylem, sam Indigenous language of Fraser Valley den Fraser Canyon insyd British Columbia. She commit over 50 years of work towards language preservation.

 Ein Biography 
Phillips ein die insyd childbirth, wey ein poppie bring am say make she cam live plus de Peters family for Sea Bird Island. Na de Peters family be fluent Upriver Halq’emeylem speakers. From de age of 8 go 15, Phillips attend St. Mary's Residential School insyd Mission, British Columbia, wey dem forbid am from say she go speak Halq’emeylem. However, na she fi retain ein fluency by say she go think insyd de language.

Insyd ein early 30s, local leaders approach Phillips say make she begin working as translator give de elders' demma language circle. Insyd de 1980s, she formally start dey work for language preservation through de Coqualeetza Cultural Education Center top. Phillips, along plus 11 other elders, work plus linguist Brent Galloway create sam Halq’emeylem writing system wey dem plete sam dictionary. Phillips step insyd continue de work of Elizabeth Herrling wey na she dey work record de language insyd stories but she die before she plete ein work.

She dey work plus linguist Strang Burton for two decades. Together dem record both stories den de dictionary. Burton use language ultrasound record de movement of Phillips ein tongue aid learners insyd pronunciation.

Phillips still regularly dey visit Halq'eméylem language classrooms for University of the Fraser Valley den for area schools. She sana dey consult for development of courses top.

De University of de Fraser Valley recognize Phillips insyd 2018 plus honorary Doctor of Letters degree.

 Ein Publications 

 Phillips, S. E., Gutierrez, X. T., & Russell, S. (2017). Talking insyd Halq'eméylem: Documenting conversation insyd sam indigenous language.

 References 
Category:1939 births
Category:Language activists
Category:Living people
Category:Human
Category:Sto:lo people
Category:First Nations women writers
Category:20th-century First Nations women
Category:21st-century First Nations women