Vera Manuel facts for kids

Vera Manuel (born March 20, 1948 – died January 22, 2010) was a talented writer and artist from British Columbia, Canada. She was a playwright (someone who writes plays), a poet, a writer, a healer, and an educator. Vera was from the Secwépemc and Ktunaxa First Nations. Her native name was Kulilu Paⱡki, which means Butterfly Woman. Her plays were shown in both Canada and the United States.

Vera Manuel's Life Story

Vera Manuel was the first daughter of Marceline Paul (Ktunaxa) and George Manuel, Sr (Secwepemc). Both of her parents attended special schools that were very difficult for Indigenous children.

Vera grew up on the Neskonlith reserve in the middle of British Columbia. Later, she lived for many years in Vancouver, a city on the coast of Canada. She passed away there in January 2010, when she was 61 years old.

Her Work and Impact

Vera Manuel worked with many different communities across North America. She wrote and created many plays that explored the challenges faced by First Nations communities. These plays often talked about cultural unfairness and the tough history of Indigenous peoples.

She worked on her own and also with a group called Storytellers Theatre. With them, she wrote and produced plays like The Strength of Indian Women and Every Warrior's Song. Her poems and short stories were printed in magazines and books. Like her plays, her poems were also performed live at events across Canada and the United States.

Her play, Strength of Indian Women, was shown in many places across North America. It was also published in a book called Two Plays about Residential Schools in 1998. This book also included a play by Larry Loyie, a Cree writer. Critics said Vera's play was "beautiful" and powerful. It was even used in healing events across Canada to help people deal with past hurts.

Honoring Her Work

Vera Manuel's important work was recognized by the Native American Women Playwrights Program. This program is located at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and it helps to keep the works of Indigenous women playwrights safe and available for others to learn from.

Vera Manuel's Plays

• Song of the Circle, 1989
• Honouring the Strength of Indian Women, 1992