Esther Martinez

**Esther Martinez** alias **Estefanita Martinez** (dem born am 1912 &#x2013; she die September 16, 2006) na she be linguist den storyteller for de Tewa people of New Mexico. Dem give Martinez de Tewa name **P’oe Tsáwä** ( wey dey mean Blue Water) wey na dem sana know am plus various affectionate names, wey dey include "Ko'oe Esther" den "Aunt Esther."

She live go 94 years old, wey na dem know am secof ein commitment wey she dey take preserve de Tewa language. Dem publish ein *San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary* insyd 1982.

## Ein Biography
Martinez grow up insyd de Southwest. Dem born insyd Ignacio, Colorado, wer na she dey live plus ein parents; later, she live plus ein grandparents insyd Ohkay Owingeh. Later insyd life, she rep:You wey you get grandparents make you talk plus be lucky waa, secof adey treasure my grandparents den de things wey I learn from dem. Na my grandpoppy be storyteller. Indian menners get demma lessons from stories dem talk dem as dem be kiddies. *So chao of wona stories be learning experiences* - *(You who have grandparents to talk to are so lucky, because I treasure my grandparents and the things that I have learned from them. My grandfather was a storyteller. Indian people get their lessons from stories they were told as children.  So a lot of our stories are learning experiences)*.
Martinez attend de Santa Fe Indian School den de Albuquerque Indian School, wey she graduate from de latter insyd 1930.

Ein grandson, Matthew J. Martinez wey mow Tewa language from am talk say "Say she survive ein years insyd boarding school den say she go help ein community by say she go perpetuate de language be sam powerful statement".  "No matter de harsh conditions, she still carry dat desire hold on for ein language den culture wey she document am den pass am on."

As adult, na Esther Martinez be one of de greatest champions wey fight say she go preserve de Tewa language. New Mexico ein first lady, Barbara Richardson, talk say "She almost single-handedly save de Tewa language."

Martinez receive sam honorary Bachelor of Arts insyd Early Childhood Education from Northern New Mexico College insyd 2006, wey she work plus de Northern Pueblo Institute. She serve as traditional storyteller give de National Park Service.

## Ein Legacy
Insyd December 2006, US H.R. 4766, dem sign Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act, for law insyd, wey dey authorize funding give new programs wey tribes go use prevent dema loss of heritage den culture. As of Sept. 15, 2012, na members of de New Mexico congressional delegation introduce legislation wey go extend de program for anoda five years.

Dem describe *San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary*, wey Martinez rep insyd 1992, as "one of de most remarkable of dese efforts for documentation of sam endangered language,". Melissa Axelrod, associate professor of linguistics for de University of New Mexico talk say "Eget wealth of vocabulary den grammatical information wey ebe rich plus cultural nuance - (It has a wealth of vocabulary and grammatical information and is rich with cultural nuance)."

As of 2008, ein grandson, Dr. Matthew J. Martinez " dey serve for Ohkay Owingeh School Board top, wey he dey assist plus implementation den support of de Tewa language curriculum."

## Ein Publications

* *My Life In San Juan Pueblo: Stories of Esther Martinez*. University of Illinois Press, 2004  
* *Naughty Little Rabbit and Old Man Coyote: A Tewa Story from San Juan Pueblo*, (as Estefanita Martinez) Illustrated by Rick Regan, Children's Press, Chicago, 1992  
* *San Juan Pueblo Tewa Dictionary*. San Juan Pueblo Bilingual Program, San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, 1982; Bishop Publishing, 1983.

## Ein Awards den honors

* Insyd November 8, 2008, dem unveil New Mexico State Historic Marker for Ohkay Owingeh wey dem dedicate give Esther Martinez.

* Na she be recipient of sam 2006 National Heritage Fellowship wey National Endowment for de Arts, wey be United States government ein highest honor insyd de folk den traditional arts insyd award am.

* Honorary Bachelor of Arts, Northern New Mexico College (2006)

* Indigenous Language Institute Award for "Menners Wey Dey Make ifferenceT - (hose Who Make a Difference") (insyd 1999)

* New Mexico Arts Commission Governor EIN  Award for Excellence DEN Achievement insyd Arts - (1998)

* Indian Education Award for Teacher of de Year from de National Council of American Indians

* National Council of American Indians, Shoddie of de Year Award (National Council of American Indians, Woman of de Year Award) - (1997)

* Living Treasure Award from de State of New Mexico (1996)

* National Association for Bilingual Education, Pioneer Award (1992)

## Ein Gallery

File:Esther_Martinez_45.jpg|New Mexico Historic Marker for Esther Martinez
File:Esther_Martinez_53.jpg|Dedication of Historic Marker, November 8, 2008
File:Esther_Martinez_26.jpg|sam small part of Esther Martinez ein family


## References


## External links

* NPR radio appreciation plus sound clip of ein storytelling