Carrie Sahmaunt

Carrie Quoetone Sahmaunt (August 20, 1904 – January 15, 2005) was known as the oldest Kiowa Indian. She died on January 15, 2006 at her home in Meers, Oklahoma at the age of 101.

Life

Tsat-Mah (Door Woman) was born to Jimmy and Be-ko-be-ah (Took something away) Quoetone (Gui-tone - wolf tail) in Carnegie, Oklahoma during a Sun Dance being held north of town. Her name was changed to Carrie when she attended the Rainy Mountain Boarding School with other Kiowa children. All Native American children were given English names and were taught the English language. Speaking their native language was discouraged, but Carrie was among the few Kiowas who still spoke the language fluently.

She married Joel Sahmaunt and had 10 children. She raised her family on the 160 acres of land given her by the federal government as a full-blood member of the Kiowa Tribe. She believed in education and made sure all her children had secondary schooling.

Carrie attended the Mount Scott Kiowa United Methodist Church, built by her family in 1895. Many family members are buried in the Inter-Tribal Cemetery there. The church was declared a historical site by the United Methodist Church.

Lou Moore Hale, a talented sculpter, made a bust of her head that was included in her show of Oklahoman elders.

More than 400 people attended her 100th birthday party in 2004.

Awards and achievements

*1976 Merit Mother of the Year for the state of Oklahoma
*1988 Indian Education Parent of the Year by the Oklahoma Council for Indian Education
*First president of the former West District Women’s Society of Christian Service in the United Methodist Church’s former Indian Mission

References

External links

* [http://www.indianz.com Indianz.com]
* [http://www.umc.org United Methodist Church News]
* [http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/elder_law/2006/week3/index.html Elder Log Prof Blog]