Post by Okwes on Mar 18, 2008 20:17:26 GMT -5
Native American taught children Paiute ways
Posted: 3/14/2008
by JoAnne Peden
When Katie Christy was born, Native American births were not officially recorded. Her mother guessed she was 8 years old when she was required to enroll her in, and leave her for the next eight years at, Carson Indian School.
Christy's Paiute name was Titzipoona, which means "small and very lively," an apt description of her. At school, she was given the name Katie Christy so it could be written in English.
After graduation, Christy married and had three children. She and her husband later divorced, and she moved to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, where she met and married Harrison Frazier and had four more children.
During Christy's childhood, her family worked for white settlers but still followed traditional Paiute ways, such as speaking Northern Paiute, harvesting pine nuts, digging camas and living in a willow house.
Christy thought Paiute children needed to know and appreciate their native language and culture and began teaching them.
Christy was an accomplished quilter and cradle board and moccasin maker. She loved to dance the traditional Paiute dances. Several tribal members established a dance group that was invited to the 1960 Winter Olympics to dance for snow, which had eluded Squaw Valley.
Christy is remembered for her strength, perseverance and twinkly-eyed jokes. When President George H.W. Bush and Nevada Senator Richard Bryan congratulated her on her 100th birthday, she said, "Well, I'm glad they know how old I am, and I might be older though."
Research and biographical sketch by JoAnne Peden; condensed by Bobbie Talso from an original biography at www.nevadawomen.org
Katie Christy Frazier
About 1891 "� Aug. 5, 1991
Native American educator, dancer and artist
Posted: 3/14/2008
by JoAnne Peden
When Katie Christy was born, Native American births were not officially recorded. Her mother guessed she was 8 years old when she was required to enroll her in, and leave her for the next eight years at, Carson Indian School.
Christy's Paiute name was Titzipoona, which means "small and very lively," an apt description of her. At school, she was given the name Katie Christy so it could be written in English.
After graduation, Christy married and had three children. She and her husband later divorced, and she moved to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, where she met and married Harrison Frazier and had four more children.
During Christy's childhood, her family worked for white settlers but still followed traditional Paiute ways, such as speaking Northern Paiute, harvesting pine nuts, digging camas and living in a willow house.
Christy thought Paiute children needed to know and appreciate their native language and culture and began teaching them.
Christy was an accomplished quilter and cradle board and moccasin maker. She loved to dance the traditional Paiute dances. Several tribal members established a dance group that was invited to the 1960 Winter Olympics to dance for snow, which had eluded Squaw Valley.
Christy is remembered for her strength, perseverance and twinkly-eyed jokes. When President George H.W. Bush and Nevada Senator Richard Bryan congratulated her on her 100th birthday, she said, "Well, I'm glad they know how old I am, and I might be older though."
Research and biographical sketch by JoAnne Peden; condensed by Bobbie Talso from an original biography at www.nevadawomen.org
Katie Christy Frazier
About 1891 "� Aug. 5, 1991
Native American educator, dancer and artist