Velma Wallis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Velma Wallis
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| Born | 1960 (age 64–65) Near Fort Yukon, Alaska
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| Occupation | Novelist |
| Known for | Author of Two Old Women |
| Children | 4 |
Velma May Wallis, born in 1960, is an American writer. She is from the Gwich'in Athabascan group, an Indigenous people of Alaska. Her stories are very popular and have been translated into 17 different languages around the world. She is best known for her book Two Old Women.
Contents
Early Life and Alaskan Roots
Where Velma Wallis Grew Up
Velma Wallis was born and grew up in a small, far-off village in Alaska. This village was close to a place called Fort Yukon. It was about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of Fairbanks.
Traveling in Remote Alaska
Because the village was so remote, getting there was an adventure. People could only reach it by riverboat, airplane, snowmobile, or even by dogsled. This unique upbringing in the Alaskan wilderness has greatly influenced her writing.
Velma Wallis's Family Life
Her Home and Family
Velma Wallis is a mother of four children. She has three daughters and one son. Today, she splits her time between two places in Alaska. She lives part of the year in Fairbanks and part in Fort Yukon.
Awards and Recognition
Celebrating Her Books
Velma Wallis has received important awards for her writing. These awards show how much her stories are valued.
- 2003 American Book Award, for her book Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in Coming of Age Story from the Yukon River
- 1993 Western States Book Award
