“I write my big news. That’s how all of the people know where is Old Crow. Before the News go out nobody know where is Old Crow. Just when I send my news people know where is Old Crow. Just when I pass away, that’s the time my news will cut off.”

– Edith Josie, First Nations Drum

A much-loved Gwich’in elder, Edith Josie, was set to be honoured with the unveiling of a bust this afternoon in Old Crow.

Josie rose to international fame in her 40’s for her insightful, and sometimes humourous observations of life in her northern community of Old Crow from 1962 to 2005. Her newspaper column Here are the News was published by the Star and syndicated to newspapers all over the world.

Fluent in both the Han and Gwich’in languages, Josie wrote stories of everyday Gwich’in life in English, while retaining the style of her first language. Her candid stories reflected her passion for the traditional ways of live and love of her people and culture.

Among her many achievements, Josie received the Canadian Centennial Award (1967), the Order of Canada (1995), and the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (2000).

She remained an active teacher and learner in her community until her passing in 2010.

In recognition of her achievements, Whitehorse businessman Rolf Hougen commissioned local sculptor Harreson Tanner to create two busts of Edith Josie for Old Crow and for Whitehorse.

The Old Crow bust was set to be unveiled this afternoon at a ceremony in the John Tizya Centre in Old Crow, with a reception to follow.

The Whitehorse bust will be unveiled later at 4 p.m. Sept. 12 at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Main Street, with a reception immediately afterward at Arts Underground beneath the Hougen Centre.

There will be photo story of the Old Crow unveiling by photographer Christian Kuntz.

“We are pleased that the works of our elder, Miss Edith Josie, have been recognized in this way,” Dana Tizya-Tramm, the chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, said late last week.

“To have Miss Josie both here in Old Crow and on Main Street in Whitehorse is a suitable honour for our respected elder.”

Air North has been an important partner in these events.

“We are honoured to fly in this commemorative art piece to honour Edith Josie’s contribution to telling the unique stories of the Vuntut Gwitchin people, their land and culture to the world,” said Joe Sparling, Air North’s CEO.

Hougen was inspired to commission bronze busts of people who have made significant contributions to the Yukon while on his honeymoon in Vienna in 1955.

He wanted to create lasting memorials for generations to come, and Josie is the eighth bust in the series.

“It has given him great delight to learn that tourists have begun to count trips to these busts as part of their tours of Whitehorse in order to learn more about Yukon history and Yukon art, just as he toured the bronze sculptures of Vienna almost 65 years ago,” the Hougen family said in a statement.