Vera Brown, Nthenat
Vera Brown, a Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Elder, is named Nthenat after her grandmother Annie Ned. Vera left residential school at age sixteen to live with her grandmother who taught her ways to live on the land as well as her language and culture. Brown went on to become an Indigenous language teacher for fourteen years in the public school system and then for thirteen years at the Dusk’s Head Start Family Learning Centre. She also worked at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre helping adults connect with traditional skills. Vera is recognized by her colleagues as an innovator educator who inspires the community. She received the Yukon Council of the Federation Literacy Award in 2021. The Council of Federation members are Canada’s thirteen premiers. The award was established in 2004 to honour recipients across Canada and the Yukon began presenting the award in 2005.1)