Quick Facts
Biography
Edith Josie (December 8, 1921 – January 31, 2010) was a Canadian writer, best known as a longtime columnist for the Whitehorse Star. Her column, titled Here Are the News, concerned life in the small community of Old Crow, Yukon, and was syndicated to newspapers around the world. Her writing style was noted for its offbeat smalltown charm, not always conforming to conventional notions of English grammar and spelling but instead reflective of the informal way she spoke as a non-native speaker of English:
A Gwich'in, Josie was born in Eagle, Alaska, and moved with her family to Old Crow at age 16. She was the subject of a story, "Everybody Sure Glad," by Dora Jane Hamblin in Life magazine in 1965.
In her later years, Josie contributed to a community website, oldcrow.ca.
In 1995 Josie was awarded the Order of Canada. The National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, now the Indspire Awards, honoured Josie for her achievements in arts in 2000.