hazel sampson was a key contributor in the work to preserve the klallam language. timothy montler, a professor of linguistics at the university of north texas, began working on klallam language preservation beginning in 1990. montler partnered with jamie valadez, a klallam language teacher at port angeles high school and member of the lower elwha klallam, compile klallam language materials and teaching tools. the two began work to save klallam from potential extinction.