Guillaume Leduey was 12 years old when he read an online dictionary that said the Eyak language had only one fluent speaker left.

The speaker, Marie Smith Jones, died in January 2008 at the age of 89. Now Leduey is on a quest to preserve the language for future generations of Alaska Natives.

"It's like I have an inner voice that tells me I have to do that," Leduey, 21, told The Wall Street Journal.

Leduey came to Alaska in June to learn more about the language. He's been teaching words and phrases to Eyak descendants, including Jones' daughter. "This will help keep my mom's memory and spirit alive." Mona Curry told the Journal.

Get the Story:
In Alaska, a Frenchman Fights to Revive the Eyak's Dead Tongue (The Wall Street Journal 8/10)
Extinct Alaska Native language interests French student (The Anchorage Daily News 7/29)

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Marie Smith Jones, last Eyak speaker, dies at 89 (1/23)