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oldcrow.ca/edith.htm

Edith Josie at home in Old Crow, Yukon.

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World-renowned Gwich'in writer dead at 88

Published: February 9th, 2010 09:45 AM
Last Modified: February 9th, 2010 09:46 AM

Link: The Globe and Mail (Canada) Alaska-born Gwich'in elder Edith Josie, whose long-running Yukon newspaper column drew worldwide attention to her culture and eventually earned her a profile in Life Magazine and entrance to the Order of Canada, has died at 88 in her home village of Old Crow. Josie was born in Eagle and moved across the border to Old Crow with her family in the 1940s. Her column, "Here Are the News," was written in English -- and widely translated -- but with Gwich'in syntax, which was wisely left untouched by her editors at the Whitehorse Daily Star, notes B.C. columnist Jack Knox in a tribute to Josie. Here's a sample from a 1963 column: "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." The Edmonton Journal has published many more samples here.