Vera Starbard

Vera Starbard
Starbard in 2018
Born1982 (age 43–44)
Craig, Alaska
Other nameT'set Kwei
OccupationsTelevision writer, author, playwright, editor
SpouseJoseph "Joe" Bedard
FamilyIrene Bedard (sister-in-law)

Vera Starbard (born 1982) is a Tlingit/Dena'ina television writer, author, playwright, and editor based in Douglas, Alaska, and the Alaska State Writer Laureate for 2024 to 2026.[1]

Career

Starbard began editing and writing as a journalist. She was editor of First Alaskans Magazine, a publication highlighting Alaska Native people, culture and news, for ten years.[2]

In 2016, after premiering her first play, Our Voices Will Be Heard, at Perseverance Theatre, she was named the theatre's playwright-in-residence through the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation playwright residency program.[3][4]

As a television writer, Starbard has written many episodes of the Molly of Denali animated children's program, airing on PBS KIDS.[5] She was nominated for four Emmy Awards for her work on the show.[6] 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.[7]

Writing

Plays

  • Native Pride (and Prejudice)[8]
  • Fog Woman[9]
  • Our Voices Will Be Heard performed 2016; published 2017; radio adaptation broadcast 2018[10][11][12]
  • Devilfish (2019)[13]
  • A Tlingit Christmas Carol (2020)[14]
  • Yan Tutan (2022)[15]

Television

Year Show Station Episodes
2019 Molly of Denali PBS Kids New Nivagi
Turn on the Northern Lights
2020 Canoe Journey
Eagle Tale
2021 Molly and Elizabeth
2022 Fili-bascan Chefs
Midnight Sun Fun Run
2023 Gold Strikeout
Forget-You-Not
A Song for Lola
Alaska Daily ABC Most Reckless Thing I've Ever Done
SuperKitties Disney Junior Snow Day
Showstopper
2024 Molly of Denali PBS Kids A Qyah Juneteenth
Thanks-for-Giving
SuperKitties Disney Junior Dastardly Dumpster

Other published work

  • "Our Voices Will Be Heard" full-length play in "Contemporary Plays by Women of Color, 2nd Edition" textbook, 2018[16]
  • "Ax X’oos Shaxwatíx: My feet are firmly planted" essay in "Applied Theatre with Youth: Education, Engagement, Activism" textbook, 2021[17]
  • "Primitive" essay in "My Life: Growing Up Native in America" anthology, 2024[18]

Recognition

  • 2009: Rasmuson Foundation individual artist award[19]
  • 2016: Mayor's Artist Award, Juneau[20]
  • 2020: Peabody Award (as group for Molly of Denali)[21]
  • 2021: Governor's arts and humanities awards, Alaska native artist[22]
  • 2021: New York Stage and Film NEXUS grant[23]
  • 2022: First Alaskans Institute Young Alaska Native Leader award[24]
  • 2022, 2023: Emmy nominations for outstanding writing in a preschool animation program and for best short form program as co-head writer
  • 2024: Alaska State Writer Laureate
  • 2025: Emmy nomination for outstanding writing for a preschool animated series Thanks-for-giving episode[25]
  • Alaska Literary Award[26]

Personal life

Starbard's Lingit[27] 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,[7] and graduated from East Anchorage High School in 2000.[28] Starbard 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.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Andrea Noble. "Vera Starbard Announced as new Alaska State Writer Laureate". arts.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  2. ↑ "Vera Starbard named new Alaska writer laureate". adn.com. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  3. ↑ The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (5 April 2016). "The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and HowlRound Announce $5.58 Million in Grants through the National Playwright Residency Program". The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Alaska Native playwright Vera Starbard wins three-year writing residency". Juneau Empire. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  5. ↑ Hohenstatt, Ben (9 August 2019). "'Molly of Denali' drums up fun, cultural pride". Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Ellie Ruel (2025-12-09). "Juneau writer Vera Starbard nominated for fourth Emmy". juneauindependent.com. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  7. 1 2 3 Baxter, Adelyn; KTOO, Adelyn Baxter (2024-10-19). "Juneau's Vera Starbard named next Alaska State Writer Laureate". KTOO. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. ↑ Larissa FastHorse (2020-11-30). "Native American Heritage Month: Larissa FastHorse Shares Indigenous Plays to Read". variety.com. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  9. ↑ "Vera Starbard | New Play Exchange". newplayexchange.org. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  10. ↑ Kirsch, Geoff. "Raising Voices". The Anchorage Press. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  11. ↑ "Our Voices Will Be Heard". KBOO. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  12. ↑ Uno, Roberta, ed. (2018). Contemporary plays by women of color: an anthology (Second ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 9781138189461.
  13. ↑ Hohenstatt, Ben (26 September 2019). "Theater Review: 'Devilfish' is a hell of a play". Juneau Empire. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  14. ↑ Crouse, Tripp J.; Anchorage, KNBA- (8 December 2020). "Alaska Indigenous theater production transforms classic holiday tale in 'Tlingit Christmas Carol'". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  15. ↑ "38th Marathon of One-Act Plays". Ensemble Studio Theatre. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  16. ↑ "Contemporary Plays by Women of Color: An Anthology". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  17. ↑ "Applied Theatre with Youth: Education, Engagement, Activism". Routledge & CRC Press. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  18. ↑ My Life: Growing Up Native in America. 2024-10-01. ISBN 978-1-6680-2170-5.
  19. ↑ Foundation, Rasmuson (2023-05-11). "All Years Awardees | Rasmuson Foundation". rasmuson.org. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  20. ↑ "Meet this year's winners of the Mayor's Awards for the Arts". Juneau Empire. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  21. ↑ Anchorage, Tripp J. Crouse, KNBA- (2020-06-14). "Children's program 'Molly of Denali' wins Peabody award". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 2024-10-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ "2021 Governor's Arts and Humanities Awards Recognize Nine Alaskans". Alaska Business Magazine. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  23. ↑ BWW News Desk. "New York Stage and Film Announces NEXUS Initiative Artist Grants". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  24. ↑ Pool, Press (2022-10-31). "Announcing the 2022 awardees of the First Alaskans Institute Howard Rock and Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala". ICT News. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  25. ↑ Ellie Ruel (2025-12-09). "Juneau writer Vera Starbard nominated for fourth Emmy". juneauindependent.com. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  26. ↑ "Vera Starbard (Tlingit/Dena'ina)". HowlRound Theatre Commons.
  27. ↑ https://tlingitlanguage.com/
  28. ↑ "Vera Starbard named new Alaska writer laureate". adn.com. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
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