A funeral being held Friday for respected Yellowknives Dene elder Muriel Betsina has been moved from St. Patrick’s Church to St. Patrick’s school gymnasium in order to accommodate what’s expected to be a large gathering.
Muriel was a long time resident of Ndilo and is the mother of current chief Ernest Betsina.
She was born in the Sahtu before being sent to residential school in Fort Resolution.
Muriel then got a job in the kitchen at Con Mine.
Condolences and messages about her loss have been pouring in on social media.
Betsina was 76 years old.
She was perhaps best known for always having an open door, a sympathetic ear and making some of the best bannock in the Northwest Territories.
The funeral mass will be held at the St. Pat’s gym at 1:00 pm followed by burial at Lakeview Cemetery.
There will then be a reception at the Ndilo Gym.
(With files from Francis Tessier-Burns)