Dene People Mourn Loss Of Beloved Priest

Friday, September 16, 2005 at 14:48

 

 

Northern Saskatchewan Dene communities are mourning the passing of a long-time priest.

 

Father Jean Megret died from pneumonia on Wednesday at the hospital in Stony Rapids, where he had been staying ever since he suffered a stroke in 2003 that left him partially paralyzed.

 

Megret served as a priest for 50 years in northern Dene communities like La Loche, Dillon and Wollaston Lake, during which time he learned to speak the Dene language fluently.

 

Hatchet Lake education director Rosalie Tsannie says her community of Wollaston Lake owes much of its development to him, noting that he filled a lot of roles before basic services were established there.

 

The community eventually named both of its schools after Megret.

 

His funeral will take place in Wollaston Lake on Monday.

 

Between now and then, his body will be accompanied by Athabasca band chiefs as its flown to other Far North communities for services there.