Vera Starbard facts for kids

Vera Starbard in 2018

Vera Starbard (born in 1982) is a talented writer, playwright, and editor. She is from the Tlingit and Dena'ina Native Alaskan communities. Vera lives in Douglas, Alaska. She is currently the Alaska State Writer Laureate.

Vera's first play, "Our Voices Will Be Heard," was shown at Perseverance Theatre in 2016. After this, she became a Playwright-in-Residence at the theatre. She started her career as a journalist right after high school. For ten years, she was the editor of First Alaskans Magazine. This magazine shared stories about Alaska Native people, their culture, and news.

As a television writer, Vera has written many episodes for the animated children's show Molly of Denali on PBS KIDS. She was nominated for three Emmy Awards for her work on this show. Vera also wrote for the ABC show Alaska Daily. In 2024, she was chosen as the Alaska State Writer Laureate for a two-year period.

Vera Starbard's Achievements

Vera Starbard has received many awards and honors for her writing and creative work.

• Alaska State Writer Laureate (2024)
• Emmy Nominations for Molly of Denali (2022 and 2023)
• Governor's Arts and Humanities Award (2021)
• First Alaskans Institute Young Alaska Native Leader Award
• Peabody Award (as part of the Molly of Denali writing team)
• Mayor's Artist Award, Juneau (2016)
• Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award (2009)
• Alaska Literary Award
• New York Stage And Film NEXUS Grant (2021)

Plays Written by Vera Starbard

Vera Starbard has written several plays that have been performed and published.

• Native Pride (and Prejudice)
• Fog Woman
• Our Voices Will Be Heard (performed 2016, published 2017, radio adaptation 2018)
• Devilfish (2019)
• A Tlingit Christmas Carol (2020)
• Yan Tutan (2022)

Television Shows Vera Has Written For

Vera Starbard has contributed her writing talents to popular television shows.

Molly of Denali (PBS Kids)

Vera has written many episodes for this award-winning children's show. Some of her episodes include:

• "New Nivagi" (2019)
• "Turn on the Northern Lights" (2019)
• "Canoe Journey" (2020)
• "Eagle Tale" (2020)
• "Molly and Elizabeth" (2021)
• "Fili-bascan Chefs" (2022)
• "Midnight Sun Fun Run" (2022)
• "Gold Strikeout" (2023)
• "Forget-You-Not" (2023)
• "A Song for Lola" (2023)
• "A Qyah Juneteenth" (2024)
• "Thanks-for-Giving" (2024)

Alaska Daily (ABC)

Vera wrote one episode for this drama series:

• "Most Reckless Thing I've Ever Done" (2023)

SuperKitties (Disney Junior)

Vera has also written episodes for this animated series:

• "Snow Day" (2023)
• "Showstopper" (2023)
• "Dastardly Dumpster" (2024)

Other Published Works

Besides plays and TV scripts, Vera has also written essays for books.

• "Primitive" essay in "My Life: Growing Up Native in America" (2024)
• "Ax X’oos Shaxwatíx: My feet are firmly planted" essay in "Applied Theatre with Youth: Education, Engagement, Activism" (2021)
• "Our Voices Will Be Heard" play in "Contemporary Plays by Women of Color, 2nd Edition" (2018)

Vera Starbard's Personal Life

Vera's Lingit name is T'set Kwei. Her clan is Leeneidi, which means "dog salmon." She is a citizen of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Vera was born in Craig, Alaska. She grew up in many different communities across Alaska. She graduated from East Anchorage High School in 2000.

Vera met her husband, Joseph "Joe" Bedard, in 2011. They were introduced by Joe's sister, actress Irene Bedard. Vera and Joe got married in Anchorage, Alaska. They now live in Douglas, Alaska.