Cristina Calderón

last full blood Yagán, last known speaker of the Yaghan language (1928–2022)

Cristina Calderón (May 24, 1928[1] – February 16, 2022) was a Chilean writer. She was born in Puerto Williams, Navarino Island. She was the last living full-blooded Yaghan person after the death of her 84 year-old sister Úrsula in 2005.[2][3] She was also the last native speaker of the Yaghan language.[4]

Cristina Calderón in 2013

Calderón was honored as the Illustrious Daughter of the Magallanes Region and Chilean Antarctica. She was also recognized by the National Council of Culture and the Arts as a Living Human Treasure by UNESCO in 2003.[5]

Calderón died on February 16, 2022 in Punta Arenas, Chile from COVID-19 at the age of 93.[6]

References

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  1. Cristian Muñoz Vera. "Cristina Calderón representará a la Región de Magallanes en la elección de la mujer del Bicentenario" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  2. Jackie Hailey (October 14, 2005). "Extinction on the horizon for indigenous tribe in Chile: Second-To-Last Yagana Woman Dies Of A Heart Attack". The Santiago Times. Santiago. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  3. Azúa, Mauricio. "Mujer yagana busca preservar lengua a través de diccionario" (in Spanish). La Estrella de Arica. Archived from the original on 1 May 2004. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  4. Jack Hitt (February 29, 2004). "Say No More". The New York Times Magazine. New York. p. 52. ISSN 0028-7822. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  5. Biobíochile.cl (May 26, 2011). "Última representante del pueblo Yagan cumple 83 años en Puerto Williams" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  6. Fallece a los 93 años Cristina Calderón, la última hablante del idioma Yagán (in Spanish)