Hay River Reserve (Mar 29/04) - K'atlodeeche First Nation has lost one of its former chiefs. Edward Fabian died March 21 at the age of 84.

Fabian was chief of what was then known as the Hay River Indian Band from 1965 to 1971.

Edward Fabian, a former chief of the Hay River Dene Band (now K'atlodeeche First Nation), died March 21. - photo courtesy of Chief Roy Fabian

During his time as chief, he played a role in the political development of the Dene people of the NWT, and helped pave the way for the Dene to challenge Canada on land issues and treaties, according to a KFN news release announcing his death.

In the late 1960s, he was one of the founding chiefs of the NWT Indian Brotherhood, which later became the Dene Nation.

"My father was a born politician," says Roy Fabian, one of Edward's sons and current chief.

After his term as chief ended, Edward Fabian continued to be involved in local issues. In 1974, when the chief and council of the Hay River Indian Band were signing the Band Council Resolution to create the Hay River Reserve, they invited him to also sign.

The creation of the reserve fulfilled one of his dreams to address land issues with Canada.

"I thought highly of my father," says Roy Fabian. "My father was never, ever afraid. He never backed down from anyone. He said things that had to be said."

Like other Elders, his father had a high level of selflessness, he adds. "They were there to help people meet their needs."

Edward Fabian was born and grew up on the land near the Buffalo River delta.

The current chief remembers his father as a very traditional man, but one who sensed that things were changing. "I remember he said one day, 'The world is changing and you're not going to be able to depend on the traditional ways.'"

While Edward Fabian continued to hunt and trap and live a very traditional Dene lifestyle, he made sure his children received a more formal education. He moved his family to the Old Village in 1959, and encouraged them to go to school, while he continued to hunt and trap and occasionally worked summers in Hay River as a carpenter.

For the last three years, the former chief lived at Hay River's Woodland Manor, where some of the staff were trying to learn the South Slavey language to better serve him and other Dene residents.

The cause of his death was liver failure as a result of a recently discovered cancerous tumour.

Funeral services were held March 25 on the Hay River Reserve.