Edwin Benson, Date of Birth, Date of Death

Edwin Benson

Last speaker of Mandan language

Date of Birth: 23-Oct-1931

Date of Death: 09-Dec-2016

Profession: language teacher

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Edwin James Benson (October 23, 1931 – December 9, 2016(2016-12-09) (aged 85); Ma-doke-wa-des-she, modern Mandan orthography: Wéroke Wáatashe, Iron Bison) was an educator and the last native speaker of the Mandan language.
He was born in Elbowoods, North Dakota, on the Fort Berthold Reservation in McLean County, North Dakota.
When the Garrison Dam was built, Benson and his family were relocated to Twin Buttes, North Dakota.
He taught Mandan at Twin Buttes Elementary School, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of North Dakota in 2009.
He was involved in efforts to teach the basics of Mandan to youth.He was the last fluent speaker of Mandan language.
When he died on December 9, 2016, the Mandan language became extinct.