Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Friends and family were shocked this week to learn that Nancy Buckley, often referred to as the "fish lady," had died. She was 46.

Nancy Buckley was often seen around town selling fish from the back of her truck. She collapsed and died Tuesday while collecting fish at Whitebeach Point. - photo courtesy of Bill Braden

"Nancy was the James Brown of fishing," said neighbour John Alexander.

"She was the hardest working woman on Great Slave Lake. It's just such a shock."

Buckley was a fixture around town with her fleece jacket, long braided hair, and a pickup truck full of fish fillets.

Many people had bought fish from her at one time or another. Buckley and her husband Archie owned a barge fish plant parked next to Jolliffe Island on Yellowknife Bay. She was often seen filleting the day's catch there for hours on end.

Customers anxious for fresh fish from Great Slave Lake regularly drove up to the barge in winter after the Buckleys returned from netting fish. In summer, Nancy Buckley sold fish on shore. The couple also sold fish to restaurants such as Bullock's Bistro and the Wildcat Cafe.

"My favourite is when she sold fish from the back of her truck in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken," said Alexander.

Buckley died Tuesday after collapsing while out collecting fish at Whitebeach Point on the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, according to her daughter Betty.

The cause of death was unclear at press time.

Bullock's co-owner Renata Bullock called Buckley an inspiration to women seeking careers in jobs typically dominated by men.

"She was a strong individual in very much a man's world," said Bullock.

"For me, from a woman's point of view, I had great admiration for her."

Bill Braden said he has never seen anyone fillet fish as quick and efficiently as Buckley did, and with a smile to boot.

"I really liked her happy attitude," said Braden.

"She always had a smile and took an interest in what you were doing. We're really going to miss her."

Buckley came north from Ottawa when she was 18 or 19, starting off in Hay River, according to her sister Kathy Yurris, who followed her up to the NWT where she still resides.

"She was heading to the Yukon and took the wrong turn and ended up in Hay River," said Yurris.

After arriving in Hay River, Buckley took a job cleaning barges. It was while doing that she met lifelong fisherman Archie Buckley, who was 29 years her senior.

Yurris said Archie, along with other family members, was devastated by her death.

Betty said Nancy and Archie often went fishing together on Great Slave for weeks at a time during the summer months.

"They were always in the boat together," said Betty.

- Funeral arrangements were not available at press time.