Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, August 20, 2007

FORT MCPHERSON - For those remembering Rosie Firth, a Gwich'in elder who died Aug. 11 at the age of 77 from lung cancer, her list of accomplishments seems endless.

"She was a great lady," said Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko in the legislative assembly last week.

Rosie Firth, who died Aug. 11, will be remembered for her contributions to preserving and promoting Gwich'in language and culture. - photo courtesy of Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization.

"She'll be greatly missed throughout her own community and the Yukon. I visited Rosie before she passed away. I will cherish it for the rest of my life."

Firth was diagnosed with lung cancer in January of this year. Upon hearing the diagnosis, Firth told her family she had two wishes before she died. The first was to attend a friend's wedding in Old Crow, Yukon. Not only did she make it to the wedding, but she brought wedding slippers for the bride and the bridesmaids.

Her second wish was to attend this year's Midway Lake music festival. She died less than a week after realizing this second wish.

"You don't say that Rosie Firth died," said Michael Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. "She lived."

Robinson first worked with Firth in 1995 while he was executive director of the Arctic Institute of North America. He recruited Firth to help put together educational packages and research on the Gwich'in language.

Robinson said Firth initially said she probably wasn't up to the job, having only a Grade 5 education. But, Robinson said, Firth excelled in her contributions.

"She took it on and of course she went from strength to strength," he remembered. When Robinson left the institute to work at the Glenbow, Firth worked with him as a curator ensuring the accuracy of his Gwich'in material.

In addition to her knowledge of Gwich'in language, Firth was also renowned for her expert seamstress skills in making traditional clothing. In February 2005, she travelled with a group of elders to the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., to study traditional Gwich'in outfits for reproduction.

Ingrid Kritsch, research director with the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute, travelled with Firth to the museums to view the various pieces of clothing.

"The look on her face is something I'll always remember," said Kritsch. "She was almost overwhelmed to see this clothing from an earlier time."

Firth helped recreate the traditional clothing to keep in Gwich'in communities.

Firth's beadwork is also featured on the ceremonial mace used in NWT's legislative assembly.

Firth was also dedicated to the church, giving weekly readings of the bible in Gwich'in.

"I don't think I ever remember her missing a Sunday," said Ross. Firth held weekly Gwich'in bible readings in her home every Tuesday up until the summer of this year.

Firth leaves behind her three children Mary, Norm, and Denise and eight grandchildren.