Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 01/02) - Dene elder Alexis Adam'Pietcho Mackenzie died on Jan. 19, taking with him 83 years of traditional knowledge.

"I will miss him being around," said son Hardy Mackenzie, who lived with his father in Ndilo.

Alexis Adam'Pietcho Mackenzie died on Jan. 19 and with him went 83 years of Dene knowledge. - photo courtesy of the Mackenzie Family

Mackenzie died in Yellowknife after collapsing in Centre Square Mall.

A service was held in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Rae on Jan. 23. He was buried in the community cemetery.

Mackenzie was born on the land near Rae on Jan. 8, 1919, a year before Dogrib Chief Monfwi signed Treaty 11.

He is survived by 10 children, 22 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and his wife, Helen Mackenzie, of 59 years.

The couple grew up in Rae together and married on July 24, 1943, at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Rev. Almier Bezannier read the vows as one of the great Dogrib chiefs, Jimmy Bruneau watched.

"When we first met we were in love, for the two of us it was our own world," said Helen in Dogrib through her daughter, Dixi Mackenzie, who interpreted.

"I miss him," she said.

Eight years later, Mackenzie's mother told him to leave Rae and move to Ndilo after four of his children died.

In 1951 the family went to Yellowknife, where Mackenzie found work at Johnson's Building Supplies for 13 years.

He owned a dog team in those days and carved rattles and drums when he retired from the hardware store.

He loved to teach the Dene craft; the slant of the blade, the edge of the wood.

In the early 1990s, Mackenzie hosted carving workshops at Folk on the Rocks. He taught carving in Ndilo, Ecole St. Joseph and at St. Patrick high school.

What the family remembers most was Mackenzie's love of the bush.

"He didn't like the city that much, he like going out on the land," said his son Hardy.

Mackenzie had a cabin out on Gordon Lake where he went out to trap and hunt.

"He was a good father," said daughter Carol Mackenzie. "He taught me a lot of things."