Mary McKanachaa

Mary McKanachaa

 Mary McKanachaa was “as old as the Alaska Highway.”

She was born on December 26, 1942, to Charles Bigfoot and Nina Chipesia at Klua Lakes, British Columbia. Mary spent her early years on the land. She often told stories of the harsh way of life. No electricity, heating, or running water. Cutting wood by hand. Carrying water and melting snow. Living in canvas tents, and her father building their cabin.

Mary was the first generation to attend school. She went to Prophet River Day School in the winter, and in the summers, her family left the community to hunt and camp. She was one of the last Elders of Prophet River First Nation to live and remember this way of life.

Mary once dreamed of becoming a nurse, but this dream would never come to fruition. Instead, she worked at Trutch and Sikanni Lodge. It was in Sikanni in 1964 that she met Gary Kaiser. In 1968, they moved to Whitehorse, where they had three children: Arne, Laurette, and Timothy.

Over the years, the family spent time in various parts of British Columbia and Alberta, but the pull of the Yukon was too strong. They returned to Whitehorse in 1986.

The 1990s marked a turning point for Mary. A quiet, but powerful reclamation. She reclaimed her independence, and most importantly, her identity. Mary’s birth name was Bigfoot, a name given to her family by settlers. She later reclaimed her traditional name, McKanachaa.

In 1995, she began working at Whitehorse General Hospital, where she worked until her retirement in 2007. The following year, she returned to Prophet River.

Mary was a strong voice and advocate for the Dunne-za people, culture, land, and language. She carried knowledge that few held, and shared it with strength and pride. She participated in numerous interviews about the Dunne-za culture, taught the Beaver language, helped develop language cards, participated in a traditional medicine project, sat as an Elder representative, and testified at the western boundary court case.

Mary loved the land deeply. The sunrise, the mountains, the flowers, the rivers, and the stars. She loved going for drives and berry picking, especially to Kusawa and Quiet Lake. She was creative, artistic, and a captivating storyteller. She loved to read and would often use books to teach herself new skills, like cooking and crocheting.

Mary was strong, independent, motivated, resilient, patient, kind, gentle, and protective.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Arne (Melanie) and Laurette; her grandchildren, Shanny (Matt), Cheyenne, Callie, Adam, and Noah; and her great-grandchildren, Jace, Brady, and Colton, step brother Willy Dettieh, along with many extended family and community members.

She is predeceased by her mother, Nina; her father, Charles; her son, Timothy; her brother, John; her sisters, Ruth, June and Janice; and spouse, Gary Kaiser.

Now, she returns to the land that raised her and takes her place at the Lord’s side.