Yeidikook’áa of the Kiks.ádi clan’s X’aaka Hít (Point House), grew up in Sitka. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Bill and Isabella Brady; her paternal grandparents are Liz Howard and the late Glenn Howard. Her parents are Louise Brady and Glenn Howard. She is the child of the Teikweidí clan and the grandchild of the Kaagwaantaan clan. Dionne graduated from the state-run public boarding school, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, where she has now been teaching since 2000, as well. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Sheldon Jackson College. In addition to spending more than two decades teaching students from all across the state of Alaska, Dionne’s roots in her own culture run deep, having led two local Tlingit dance groups for several years, as well as being the caretaker of her clan’s songs. As a culture bearer, she has volunteered with the middle and high schoolers in the local Native education program, teaching song and dance. Additionally, she has taught the Alaska issues curriculum that is embedded in the US Government course at MEHS, focusing on land claims and tribal government. When she isn’t at work or engaged in one of her numerous volunteer commitments, Dionne loves to sing, dance, watch Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Star Wars, Marvel and drink grande double buzzsaws with way too much cream.
