Biography - Sharon Shorty

Sharon Shorty has been voted one of the TOP 10 YUKONERS to meet (Up Here Magazine, 1999) and is from the Tlingit, Northern Tutchone and Norwegian People. Sharon is from the Raven Clan and was raised with the storytelling tradition of her southern Yukon community.

As a result, she strives to share stories in various genres. Her popular character "Grandma Susie" tells the old stories as well as her adventures with Colonel Sanders and trips to New York City.

She performs with Duane Ghastant' Aucoin (Tlingit, Yanyedi Clan) to make the unforgettable duo "Gramma Susie and Cash Creek Charlie". In television, she is a story producer: telling stories on arts and culture.

As a playwright, her stories reflect her people. In Trickster Visits the Old Folks Home, an elder is moved to a nursing home, against her will. She has appeared on APTN, CBC, and CTV. 

Sharon is also an award winning actor (Aurora Award, 1997) and Storyteller (Aurora Award, 1998). She has received the Ross Charles Award (1999), the CTV Fellowship (1999) and The Yukon Filmmaker's Fund Award (1999). And more importantly, Sharon is an award-winning Bannock-Maker! (New Yukon Indian Days, 2003)

Sharon worked as Regina's first Aboriginal Storyteller-in-Residence for their 2004 Centennial Storytelling Project, based out of the Regina Public Library.

Returning to the Yukon, she was the founding Artistic Director for SYANA Performing Arts (The Society of Yukon Artists of Native Ancestry). She also tells traditional stories and teaches about her culture. Sharon now lives in her home territory with her family.

Sharon was appointed Speaker of Teslin Tlingit Council in 2008 and her term extends into 2010.