Hazel Sampson

**Hazel M. Sampson** (dem born am May 26, 1910 – she die February 4, 2014) na she be American Klallam elder den language preservationist. Na Sampson be de last native speaker of de Klallam language, as well as de oldest member of de Klallam communities for de tym of ein death insyd 2014. Na she be member of de Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington.

De Klallam language be second language wey sam members of de four indigenous Klallam communities dey speak: de Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, den de Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe of Washington dema Olympic Peninsula, de Port Gamble Band of S’Klallam Indians of Washington dema Kitsap Peninsula, as well as de Beecher Bay Klallam of British Columbia, Canada.

## Ein Biography
Dem born Sampson as **Hazel Hall** wey ebe William Hall den Ida Balch Hall wey born am for May 26, 1910, insyd Jamestown, Washington. Na she be granddaughter of Chief James Balch, de founder of Jamestown den de namesake of both de town den de Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe of Washington. Ein parents teach am de Klallam language as native speaker, though she later learn English as second language. Ein poppy, William Hall, form de first Indian Shaker Church for de Olympic Peninsula top wey dey Dungeness, Washington, circa 1910.

Insyd 1934, Sampson den ein husby, Edward C. Sampson Sr., move from Jamestown go Port Angeles, Washington. Ebe der, wey de Sampsons cam turn one of de thirteen founding families wey purchase den own land for de Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation. She marry Edward Sampson for 75 years, till say he die insyd 1995. Na she sana be member of de Jamestown S'Klallam Band, wey dem establish as separate Klallam political entity for de 1980s tym insyd. According to Jamestown chairman Ron Allen, Sampson, " she consider ein body as S'Klallam first. She associate closely plus all three bands" insyd Washington state.

Na Hazel Sampson be key contributor say she go preserve de Klallam language. Timothy Montler, sam professor of linguistics for University of North Texas, start dey work for Klallam language preservation from 1990. Montler partner plus Jamie Valadez, sam Klallam language teacher for Port Angeles High School den member of de Lower Elwha Klallam, compile Klallam language materials den teaching tools. De two start work say dem go save Klallam from potential extinction.

Montler den Valdez collaborate closely plus local native speaking Klallam, wey dey include Hazel den Ed Sampson, Adeline Smith den Bea Charles. Insyd 1999, Montler publish several guidebooks den lesson plans wey dey aim say ego teach Klallam language basics through storytelling. Montler sana publish de first Klallam dictionary insyd 2012 through de University of Washington Press. He use terms den definitions wey Hazel Sampson, Smith den Charles contribute compile de dictionary.

Hazel Sampson decline say dem go name am as official member of Montler den Valadez dema project, for tradition insyd. However, she collaborate closely plus ein husband den other members. Na de researchers dey believe say na she dey understand de Klallam language better than ein husband den de other members of de project. According to Valadez, "She talk say, 'Dis be Ed ein work.' Na she be very traditional - (This is Ed's work. She was very traditional)." Adeline Smith die insyd March 2013, wey ecam lef Sampson as de last surviving native speaker of de Klallam language.

Na Hazel Sampson dey stay for ein Port Angeles home till ein death for February 4, 2014, for de age of 103. Ein death mark de passing of de last native speaker of Klallam, though sam younger members continue dey speak am as second language.  According to Klallam cultural teacher Jamie Valadez, "Na she be de last one...[Ein death] dey change de dynamics of everything...Dem dey carry chao knowledge of wona culture den traditions - (She was the last one...[Her death] changes the dynamics of everything...They carry so much knowledge of our culture and traditions)." She survive plus five generations of descendants.

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