A Fort McPherson man who died during a hunting trip over Labour Day weekend is being remembered as a SA国际影视传媒渇unny and lovingSA国际影视传媒� man who took pride in his traditional way of life.
Forty-year-old William Thompson was found dead on Sept. 2 near kilometre 465 of the Dempster Highway.
Thompson's body was discovered following an overnight, blizzard-hampered search launched after he didn't return from a caribou hunting trip on the Yukon side of the NWT/Yukon border the night before, according to the Yukon CoronerSA国际影视传媒檚 Service.
SA国际影视传媒淲illiam was fun-loving SA国际影视传媒ery active and very lively. He was always doing good SA国际影视传媒� an all around good man,SA国际影视传媒� said Thompson's god sister Diane Koe, of Fort McPherson, in phone interview with News/North last week.
Growing up together in Fort McPherson, Koe said Thompson was a playful trickster, often playing pranks on his four brothers and god sisters.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were the sisters he never had,SA国际影视传媒� remembered Koe.
Forty-year-old William Thompson, of Fort McPherson, who died during a recent caribou hunting trip, is being remembered by family as a fun-loving man who passed along his traditional skills for the betterment of his community.
A SA国际影视传媒渏ack of all trades,SA国际影视传媒� Thompson used his traditional skills to give back to the community, she said.
SA国际影视传媒淎ny time he was called upon to be part of something, he never turned anyone away. He was always helping.SA国际影视传媒�
Koe said Thompson, a skilled carpenter and experienced trapper, would pass on his traditional, on-the-land skills SA国际影视传媒� taught to him by his parents SA国际影视传媒� to young people in the community, often through school workshops.
SA国际影视传媒淲hat he gave out in his short life is what he got back in the past few days,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe.
When Thompson was reported as overdue, Koe said the community immediately banded together to help.
SA国际影视传媒淲ithin an hour there were people getting their Ski-Doos ready and just rushing around,SA国际影视传媒� she recalled.
Members of the search party worked through a blizzard, which dumped 20 to 25 cm of snow, overnight.
The next day, not long after news of Thompson's death had spread, Koe said community members had already packed into the late man's house, offering SA国际影视传媒減rayers and support.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚t's difficult, but we have a lot of support,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe.
Even people from outside of Fort McPherson rallied behind her and her family, added Koe.
Residents raised $8,000 and a sing-along group from Inuvik is set to visit the community.
SA国际影视传媒淲e even got donations as far as White Horse,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe.
SA国际影视传媒淭he (help) makes us feel so good because they're doing everything they can to help the family. We just want to thank everybody from the bottom of our hearts,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe.
SA国际影视传媒淚 just want people to remember William for who he really was. He was a traditional Gwich'in man who was funny and loving,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The Yukon CoronerSA国际影视传媒檚 Service, with the help of Fort McPherson , is leading the investigation into Thompson's death.
A funeral will be held in Fort McPherson today.
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