Vi Hilbert (1918-2008) was a member and noted elder of the Upper Skagit tribe. Her first language was Lushootseed, a Coast Salish language found in the Puget Sound region of western Washington state. During her long and productive life, Vi Hilbert played a major role in the revitalization of the language and culture of the First People of the Pacific Northwest. She became known as a teacher, storyteller, publisher, and public speaker. For over 40 years she built and maintained a research archive of cultural materials. Working with other scholars, she developed and published teaching materials and volumes of stories through Lushootseed Research, an organization which she founded. Her commitment to preserving Lushootseed language and literature is largely responsible for the renaissance of interest in Lushootseed culture and the growth of tribal language programs all over western Washington.
For more informaation, see:
Produced by Lushootseed Research; Vi Hilbert, executive producer; Crisca Bierwert Russell, producer; Pila Laronel, director.
Contents: Introduction by Vi Hilbert; Alice Williams (Upper Skagit) - "Grizzly Bear on the Warpath"; Fillmore James (Tulalip) - "Bear and Ant"; Vi Hilbert (Upper Skagit) - "Rock and Coyote"; Lizzie Martin (Lummi) - "Snipe and Jellyfish"; Walt Williams (Nooksack/Upper Skagit) - "Bear and the Man"; Gary Hillaire (Lummi); Bill Roberts (Nooksack); Fillmore James - song; credits.
This recording is an edited version of the day-long event; consult the Vi Hilbert Collection (2005-1) for unedited footage in various formats.
The Ethnomusicology Archives copy is a dub of the VHS copy in the UW Libraries Media Center (Videorecord LR 001)
Access is restricted.