Edith Josie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith Josie
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| Born | December 8, 1921 |
| Died | January 31, 2010 (aged 88) Old Crow, Yukon, Canada
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| Nationality | Canadian, Gwich'in |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Employer | Whitehorse Star |
| Known for | Newspaper columns about the Yukon and Old Crow |
| Awards | Order of Canada, 1995, The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, 2000 |
Edith Josie CM (December 8, 1921 – January 31, 2010) was a Canadian writer. She was best known for her long-running newspaper column. Her column was called Here Are the News.
It was about daily life in the small community of Old Crow, in the Yukon. Her column was so popular that it was shared with newspapers all over the world.
Who Was Edith Josie?
Edith Josie was a member of the Gwich'in people. This is an Indigenous group in North America. She was born in Eagle, Alaska, in 1921.
When she was 16, she moved to Old Crow, Yukon. Her father taught her how to trap animals and prepare their skins. She earned her living by selling these animal skins.
Her Unique Writing Style
Edith Josie's writing was special. It had a charming, small-town feel. Her English was not always like standard grammar or spelling. Instead, it showed how she naturally spoke.
Here is an example of her writing:
Even now the spring has come cause it is daylight around 11 o'clock p.m. Pretty soon we won't use light for night time. Everyone glad to see plane every day. Even the same plane come in one day, they all have to go down to see what is going on and what come in on plane.
This unique style made her column very popular. Readers enjoyed her honest and personal way of sharing news.
Recognition and Legacy
Edith Josie's work brought attention to life in the Yukon. In 1965, a story about her appeared in Life magazine. The story was titled "Everybody Sure Glad."
She also helped with the oldcrow.ca community website in her later years. This helped share local news online.
Awards and Honours
Edith Josie received important awards for her writing. In 1995, she was made a member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honours.
In 2000, she was honoured by the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of Indigenous people. Today, they are known as the Indspire Awards.
In 2019, a special bronze statue was made to honour her. This statue, called a bust, is displayed in Old Crow. It reminds everyone of her important contributions.
