Vera Starbard Explained

Vera Starbard (born 1982) is a Tlingit/Dena'ina television writer, author, playwright, and editor based in Douglas, Alaska, and current Alaska State Writer Laureate.

After premiering her first play, "Our Voices Will Be Heard," at Perseverance Theatre in 2016, she was named Playwright-in-Residence at Perseverance Theatre through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Playwright Residency Program.^{[1] [2]}

Vera began editing and writing as a journalist straight out of high school. She was editor of First Alaskans Magazine, a publication highlighting Alaska Native people, culture, and news, for ten years.

As a television writer Vera has written numerous episodes of the Molly of Denali animated children's program airing on PBS KIDS^[3] and was nominated for three Emmy Awards for her work on the show.^[4] Vera was on the writing staff of ABC's show Alaska Daily. Vera was appointed Alaska State Writer Laureate in 2024, a two-year appointment.^[5]

Recognition

• Alaska State Writer Laureate
• Emmy Nominations, Childrens and Family Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animation Program, 2022 and 2023, and for Best Short Form Program as Co-Head Writer in 2023
• Governor's Arts and Humanities Awards, 2021 Alaska Native Artist^[6]
• First Alaskans Institute Young Alaska Native Leader Award^[7]
• Peabody Award (as group for Molly of Denali writing)^[8]
• Mayor's Artist Award, Juneau, 2016^[9]
• Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Award in 2009^[10]
• Alaska Literary Award^[11]
• She received a New York Stage And Film NEXUS grant in 2021^[12]

Plays

• Native Pride (and Prejudice)
• Fog Woman^[13]
• Our Voices Will Be Heard performed 2016; published 2017; radio adaptation broadcast 2018^{[14] [15] [16]}
• Devilfish (2019)^[17]
• A Tlingit Christmas Carol (2020)^[18]
• Yan Tutan (2022)^[19]

Television Episodes

Molly of Denali aired on PBS Kids:

• "New Nivagi"", aired August, 19 2019
• "Turn on the Northern Lights", aired October 7, 2019
• "Canoe Journey", aired May 29, 2020
• "Eagle Tale", aired December 9, 2020
• "Molly and Elizabeth," aired November 1, 2021
• "Fili-bascan Chefs," aired March 17, 2022
• "Midnight Sun Fun Run," aired July 21, 2022
• "Gold Strikeout," aired January 16, 2023
• "Forget-You-Not," aired March 20, 2023
• "A Song for Lola," aired March 22, 2023
• "A Qyah Juneteenth," aired June 17, 2024
• "Thanks-for-Giving," aired November 4, 2024

Alaska Daily aired on ABC:

• "Most Reckless Thing I've Ever Done", aired March 30, 2023

SuperKitties aired on Disney Junior:

• "Snow Day" aired on February 3, 2023
• "Showstopper" aired on June 2, 2023
• "Dastardly Dumpster" aired on June 21, 2024

Additional Published Works

• "Primitive" essay in "My Life: Growing Up Native in America" anthology, 2024^[20]
• "Ax X’oos Shaxwatíx: My feet are firmly planted" essay in "Applied Theatre with Youth: Education, Engagement, Activism" textbook, 2021^[21]
• "Our Voices Will Be Heard" full-length play in "Contemporary Plays by Women of Color, 2nd Edition" textbook, 2018^[22]

Personal Life

Vera's Lingit name is T'set Kwei, her clan is Leeneidi (dog salmon,) and she's a citizen of the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. She was born in Craig, Alaska, was raised in numerous communities around the state of Alaska, and graduated from East Anchorage High School in 2000.

Vera met her husband Joseph "Joe" Bedard in 2011 through an introduction from actress Irene Bedard, Joe's sister. They married in Anchorage, Alaska, and live in Douglas, Alaska.

References

1. Web site: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation . The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and HowlRound Announce $5.58 Million in Grants through the National Playwright Residency Program . The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation . 27 February 2021 . 5 April 2016.
2. News: Alaska Native playwright Vera Starbard wins three-year writing residency . 18 March 2021 . Juneau Empire . 13 April 2016.
3. News: Hohenstatt . Ben . 'Molly of Denali' drums up fun, cultural pride . 19 March 2021 . Peninsula Clarion . 9 August 2019.
4. Web site: Larson . Clarise . 2022-11-22 . ‘You can do these things’: Emmy-nominated Juneau writers hope ‘Molly of Denali’ success opens door for more Indigenous voices . 2024-10-20 . Juneau Empire . en-US.
5. Web site: Baxter . Adelyn . KTOO . Adelyn Baxter . 2024-10-19 . Juneau's Vera Starbard named next Alaska State Writer Laureate . 2024-10-20 . KTOO . en-US.
6. Web site: alaskabusiness . 2022-01-11 . 2021 Governor's Arts and Humanities Awards Recognize Nine Alaskans . 2024-10-20 . Alaska Business Magazine . en-US.
7. Web site: Pool . Press . 2022-10-31 . Announcing the 2022 awardees of the First Alaskans Institute Howard Rock and Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala . 2024-10-20 . ICT News . en.
8. Web site: Anchorage . Tripp J. Crouse, KNBA- . 2020-06-14 . Children’s program ‘Molly of Denali’ wins Peabody award . 2024-10-20 . Alaska Public Media . en-US.
9. Web site: 2016-08-04 . Meet this year's winners of the Mayor's Awards for the Arts . 2024-10-20 . Juneau Empire . en-US.
10. Web site: Foundation . Rasmuson . 2023-05-11 . All Years Awardees Rasmuson Foundation . 2024-10-20 . rasmuson.org . en.
11. Web site: Vera Starbard (Tlingit/Dena'ina) . HowlRound Theatre Commons . en.
12. News: BWW News Desk . New York Stage and Film Announces NEXUS Initiative Artist Grants . 13 March 2021 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
13. Web site: Vera Starbard New Play Exchange . newplayexchange.org . 22 March 2021 . en.
14. News: Kirsch . Geoff . Raising Voices . 10 March 2021 . The Anchorage Press . en.
15. Web site: Our Voices Will Be Heard . KBOO . 10 March 2021 . en . 23 June 2018.
16. Book: Uno . Roberta . Contemporary plays by women of color: an anthology . 2018 . Routledge . London . 9781138189461 . Second.
17. News: Hohenstatt . Ben . Theater Review: 'Devilfish' is a hell of a play . 10 March 2021 . Juneau Empire . 26 September 2019.
18. Web site: Crouse . Tripp J. . Anchorage . KNBA- . Alaska Indigenous theater production transforms classic holiday tale in 'Tlingit Christmas Carol' . Alaska Public Media . 13 March 2021 . 8 December 2020.
19. Web site: 38th Marathon of One-Act Plays . 2024-10-20 . Ensemble Studio Theatre . en-US.
20. Book: My Life: Growing Up Native in America . 2024-10-01 . 978-1-6680-2170-5 . en.
21. Web site: Applied Theatre with Youth: Education, Engagement, Activism . 2024-10-20 . Routledge & CRC Press . en.
22. Web site: Contemporary Plays by Women of Color: An Anthology . 2024-10-20 . Routledge & CRC Press . en.