Former First Nations chief dies in boating accident

Wednesday, January 9, 2008  

Patrick Alfred, a former chief of the Namgis First Nation in British Columbia, died after his boat capsized. He was 70.

Alfred and five other men were fishing for herring when the boat capsized late Monday night. The five crew members managed to make it to safety but Alfred didn't make it. His body was discovered early Tuesday morning.

"It's an absolute, terrible cultural, tragic loss for our family and the community," family member Marion Wright told CTV.

Alfred was chief of the Namgis First Nation for 10 years. He fought for fishing rights and was anti-drugs and anti-alcohol, a friend said.

Alfred leaves behind a wife, seven children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Get the Story:
Former First Nations chief dies after fishing boat capsizes (CBC 1/8)
Longtime B.C. fisherman dies at sea, five survive (CTV 1/8)
Hereditary Chief Alfred dies in fishing boat accident (The Vancouver Province 1/9)
Former chief drowns after boat capsizes (The Nanaimo Daily News 1/9)

$rl Namgis First Nation - http://www.namgis.bc.ca