Eunice Xash-wee-tes-na Henry Bommelyn (Feb. 6, 1927– April 2, 2012)
Eunice Xash-wee-tes-na Bommelyn, respected and beloved elder and first speaker of Tolowa Dee-ni, passed away this past spring on April 23, 2012. Xashwee-tes-na was the last of the first speakers of Tolowa Dee-ni. Eunice was reared in the traditions of her people. She lived her life at the village of Nii~-lii~chvn-dvn on the Smith River and spent her young life at smelt camp, deer hunting camp and salmon fishing. As the years passed she ensured that the annual practice of camping at the beach and drying smelt was never broken, from time immemorial to now. Her summers included large gardens and plenty of canning for the winter stores. She is the youngest of nine siblings and the only one to graduate in 1947 from Del Norte High School, where she loved to play sports.
for the Indian Teacher and Educational Personnel Program at Humboldt State University, Title VII, United Indian Health Services, the California Rural Indian Health Board, the Northern California Indian Development Council, the Inter-Tribal Council of California, the Redwood League, the Live Your Language Alliance, Master Apprentice Program through Advocates of Indigenous California Language Survival, Northwest Indian Language Institute, among others. She was active with many tribal and committee appointments on such issues as Culture, Language, Enrollment, Constitution, Indian Child Welfare, and Housing and served as a UIHS Board Member and served on the Traditional Health, Community Health and Wellness, Conservation Easement Management Advisory, Self Determination and Patient Registration for over 40 years.
to visit with all the many people she encountered from around the world. Many people have had the joy of meeting this great lady in one way or another; she was a spitfire to put it mildly, never hesitating to put you in your place or joke with you. Eunice was friendly and spoke with all people as if she had known them for years. One of her greatest contributions was to initiate the revitalization and restoration of Taa-laa-wa Dee-ni Wee-ya`, as that was her first language. She spent many years working with her family and teaching those who were interested. She has been an invaluable resource and language teacher for the documentation of the language for future generations. -excerpts of Eunice’s obituary written by Loren Me’-lash-ne Bommelyn were used for this article
Eunice wasn’t one to sit idle. Her philosophy on work was, “Get up with the sun, because people die in bed.” Not surprisingly, she didn’t retire from the last of her paying jobs, driving van for the hospitality house at the prison, until the age of 80. What Eunice loved most about her job was the opportunity it afforded her
Eunice spent her lifetime in service and protection of tribal rights in many institutions. Eunice played a fundamental role in the Del Norte County Indian Welfare Association, the Smith River Indian Shaker Church, and in organizing and advocating All photos courtesy of Eunice’s family
8 NILI - The Northwest Indian Language Institute