Oregon Public Broadcasting

A revered tribal teacher from Eastern Oregon has died. 

Kathleen Gordon lived most of her life on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, according to the Confederated Umatilla Journal. 

She was known for her efforts to keep native languages alive.  Gordon taught young people the Nez Perce language.  

In a 2003 interview  for a documentary produced by Wisdom of the Elders, she called tribal language a "divine gift".Kathleen Gordon: "I tell our people when I try to talk to them about our languages, just like every sound he gave every bird. Every different song he gave every bird. Every different sound he gave every animal. Every different sound he gave everything in the waters and the seas. Every sound is so sacred because it's a very unique sound that comes from us. And those languages that he gave to us were, were sacred, sacred gifts that we were to cherish and teach our young the rest of our days."

Kathleen Gordon died yesterday of kidney disease.  Services are being held for her Saturday in Pendleton.