Bernelda Wheeler

Born of Cree, Assinaboine and Saulteaux heritage, Bernelda Wheeler left the reserve with her parents in the 1940s and moved to Churchill, Manitoba where she began her career in radio in 1954 at the age of 17. Much of her success was achieved in Winnipeg between 1972 and 1982, when she was host, producer and investigative journalist for Our Native Land, a national CBC radio program dedicated to aboriginal issues. Wheeler was also the author of numerous short stories and poems and was best known for her four children’s books. She received the Children’s Choice and the Toronto Children’s Book Award for Where Did You Get Your Moccasins and I Can’t Have Bannock but the Beaver has a Dam. Wheeler passed away from cancer at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.