which she was a fluent speaker. In the 1970s she taught the Carrier language and culture at St. Joseph's School, the Catholic school in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, as well as several conversational Carrier courses for adults. She was one of the founders of the Yinka Dene Language Institute of which she became the Permanent Honorary Chair. She was one of the principal contributors to the Saik'uz Children's Dictionary and other teaching materials. From 1992 until her death, she worked tirelessly with linguist Bill Poser to document her dying language. Honors In her later years, Mary John received many honors. In 1978, she was honored as Vanderhoof Citizen of the Year, the first time that a native person had received this award. In 1995 she received an honorary degree from the University of Northern British Columbia. In 1997 she was made a Member of the Order of Canada with the following citation: A well-loved and respected elder of the Carrier Nation of the Stoney Creek Reserve in British Columbia, she has dedicated her life to helping others. She is the strong force and influence behind the success of many positive initiatives and was one of the originators of the Friendship House, a community centre for Native and non-Native people. She survived many hardships to emerge as a respected elder, counsellor, midwife, educator and conciliator between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. Now in her eighties, she is still promoting the Carrier culture to the younger generation. In 2002, she received the Queen's Jubilee Medal. In January 2008, the Vanderhoof Public Library opened the Mary John Collection, a collection of 800 books on First Nations topics created in her honor. See also Notable Aboriginal people of Canada Notes Bibliography Eulogy delivered by Colleen Erickson Moran, Bridget and Mary John (1989) Stoney Creek Woman: The Story of Mary John. Arsenal Pulp Press. . Order of Canada record, 1913 births 2004 deaths 20th-century First Nations people 21st-century First Nations people Dakelh people Indigenous leaders in British Columbia Members of the Order of Canada People from the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Women in British Columbia politics 20th-century Canadian women politicians