Elsie Charles Basque

Elsie Josephine Charles Basque (1916-2016) was a Mi’kmaq known as the first member of her tribe to earn a teaching certificate.

[2] Basque was born on May 12, 1916, to Joe Charles and Margaret Labrador in Hectanooga, Digby County.

After a meeting, the county school inspector asked her to go home, noting that members of the community would oppose having a Mi’kmaq teaching their children.

Her husband was employed at Algonquin Gas Transmission Company while she did public relations work.

[7] When her children were old enough, Basque returned to teaching and worked for the Boston Indian Council.