In 1977, the late Reverend Oliver Neal introduced fluent Chickasaw speaker Catherine Willmond and UCLA Linguist Pamela Munro with the hope they would collaborate to preserve the Chickasaw language. During their friendship, spanning more than three decades, they have co-authored two books - Chickasaw an Analytical Dictionary and a textbook, Lets Speak Chickasaw: Chikashshanompa' Kilanompoli'. Their collaboration and friendship continues to this day.