Christine Williamson, 95, of rural Cushing, Oklahoma, passed from this life at her home with her family by her side, on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Christine Barker Williamson, also known as Nayeshi, her Sauk name, meaning to keep going, was born November 05, 1927, outside Drumright to Ella (Butler) and Lee Barker. Nayeshi is one of the few remaining full-blood members of the Sauk and Fox Nation. Christine began her education as an Oak Grove tiger, and then on to Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Christine then returned to Oklahoma to further her education in  Oklahoma City, becoming a Registered Nurse. Christine worked in nursing over forty years in the surrounding communities, retiring from Stroud Hospital. During her time in OKC, Christine met a handsome soldier, Mitchel H. Williamson and they married in Oklahoma City on January 10,  1953. They returned to rural Cushing and built their home and went on to raise 3 Sauk/Choctaw boys; Richard, Josh, and Robert. Christine previously served on the Sac and Fox Nation Health Advisory Board and the Sac and Fox Nation Housing Authority. Being one of the last fluent speakers of the Tribe, Christine had a deep passion for her native language. This deep passion resulted in her working with the Sauk Language department, working into her 90s. She shared her knowledge and began recordings which were developed into learning materials. Nayeshi was raised in the Native American Church and the traditional ways of the Sauk and Fox tribe. Through these customs Nayeshi was adopted into several families. Through those adoptions Christine and Mitch acquired a great amount of daughters, sons, grandchildren and other relations ranging from Iowa back to Oklahoma.

She is predeceased by her husband Mitchel H. Williamson in December of 2009, her son Josh Lee Williamson in November of 2010, and her son Richard Howard Williamson in September of 2018. Christine was the last remaining sibling of 7. Her 3 brothers Everett Barker, Scott 'Punny' Barker, and Lee 'Skush' Barker, her 3 sisters Maxine Cobb, Nadine Barker-Sloan, and Nora 'Josie' Lauderdale, and her parents Ella and Lee Barker.

Nayeshi leaves behind her youngest son Robert E. Williamson, of the home; her grandchildren: Joshua 'Na-Mi' Williamson, Stevie  Williamson, Mason Williamson, Marshal Williamson, Newman Matthew 'Pooh' Reeder-Williamson, 'Lil' Christine Williamson, and Aspen Williamson. Great-grandchildren: Halina 'Ayakwika' Williamson , Alyssa 'Wapenokwe' Williamson, and Hendrix Lee Williamson. Christine lived a very healthy lifestyle, both physically and spiritually. People have and will continue to speak of her kindness, saying she was the best of people, the kindest of people. She leaves behind a large family, a wealth of knowledge, a generation of stories, and vast history of the Sauk and Fox people.

Tribal rites will take place at the Sac and Fox Nation Community Center, Stroud, Oklahoma. Wake service will take place Friday, January 27, 2023, at 5pm. Graveside service will take place Saturday, January 28, 2023, 10:00 am at Euchee Valley Memorial Park, Cushing, Oklahoma.