The state of New Mexico unveiled a roadside marker to Esther Martinez, the Tewa linguist and storyteller who was killed in September 2006.

Martinez taught the Tewa language to generations of children in Ohkay Owingeh, where she lived. Her Tewa name was P'oe Tsawa, or Blue Water.

"It is an honor to have a marker that recognizes her contributions to her pueblo and to others," her grandson Matthew Martinez said on Saturday, The Santa Fe New Mexican reported. "She was a person steadfast to the end."

Martinez was killed on her way home to the pueblo after receiving the National Heritage Fellowship in Washington, D.C. Congress passed the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act a few weeks after her death. She was 94.

Get the Story:
Esther Martinez: 'A way to honor her spirit' (The Santa Fe New Mexican 11/9)

Native Languages Bill:
Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act (H.R.4766)

2006 National Heritage Fellowships:
Bio: Esther Martinez | List of Recipients

Related Stories:
Lawmakers seek funds for Indian education programs (5/2)
Native language preservation bill becomes law (12/15)
Native language bill finally clears Congress (12/8)
Navajo Code Talkers lobby for Native language bill (11/14)
Opinion: English comes first, not Native languages (9/27)
Esther Martinez language act up for House vote (09/25)
Man arraigned for crash that killed Pueblo storyteller (9/22)
Hundreds pay tribute to Pueblo storyteller, linguist (9/21)
Man charged with death of Pueblo storyteller (9/20)
Funeral for Esther Martinez set for Wednesday (9/19)
Esther Martinez, linguist and storyteller, dies at 94 (9/18)
House committee holds field hearing on languages (09/01)
House committee to hold field hearing on languages (08/30)
Pueblo woman keeps Tewa language, culture alive (08/28)
Opinion: Native language preservation can't wait (8/28)
Pueblo woman wins National Heritage Fellowship (06/16)
Native languages slowly losing fluent speakers (7/28)