RADILIH KOE'/FORT GOOD HOPE - Community leaders from across the Sahtu gathered in Fort Good Hope last Friday to say goodbye to respected Dene elder Adeline Pierrot, who died Sept. 29 at the age of 67.

Adeline Pierrot of Fort Good Hope, who was known for her traditional lifestyle, died suddenly on Sept. 29. She is seen here smoking a beaver pelt over a fire in her backyard in 2009. Behind her, a moosehide hangs to dry. - NNSL file photo

Pierrot's death came as a shock to her husband of 50 years, Frank Pierrot, and the couple's large circle of friends and extended family as far away as Edmonton and Vancouver.

The couple had just returned from their fishing camp near the Mackenzie River in early September, and Frank said his wife seemed healthy until she collapsed suddenly in her room after eating breakfast that Wednesday morning.

"Everybody got a shock," he said. "It happened so quick."

Adeline and Frank both grew up in Fort Good Hope and got married in April 1960, when Adeline was 16. The couple had eight children, one of whom survived their mother. Over the past 50 years they both became widely respected as role models for living a traditional lifestyle, going out trapping by snowshoe or dog team.

"She was a good wife and a hardworking lady," said Frank, 77. "When I'd go out on the land she'd come with me to the fish camp, making dry fish, hauling wood, (tanning) beaver hides, hunting."

Community members often called upon Adeline's on-the-land expertise, and she was known for sharing her traditional knowledge with researchers for environmental projects.

As Frank got older, he said he depended on his wife more and more and always admired her tenacity and work ethic. He said he could always count on her.

"She did all the talking for me and walked around town for me," he said. "Addie did all the work for me and that's what I remember the most."

Several Sahtu community leaders took time off work to travel to Fort Good Hope for the funeral, which was scheduled for Oct. 8, and still more made the trip from Alberta, B.C. and across NWT. Frank said he appreciated the community support.

"We used to love everybody - white, black, everybody," he said. "We have a lot of friends."

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