'Always thinking of others': Friends and colleagues remember former N.W.T. MLA Alfred Moses
CBC
Friends and former colleagues are remembering Alfred Moses as a passionate community advocate, a leader, a lover of sports and a family man.
Moses served as the member of the Legislative Assembly representing Inuvik Boot Lake from 2011 to 2019. In his second term, he was a cabinet minister under Premier Bob McLeod.
Friends and colleagues learned of his death in Inuvik Tuesday. The cause of death is unclear; the territory's coroner's office said it is investigating.
Moses was born in Fort McPherson, N.W.T., in 1977 and spent much of his early life in Inuvik.
Prior to taking his seat in the N.W.T. Legislature, Moses served as a representative for the Inuvik Health Authority, as a wellness coordinator for Diavik Diamond Mines, a regional youth and volunteer officer for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, and as a member of Inuvik's Town Council.
Ken Kyikavichik, Grand Chief of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, went to school with Moses in Inuvik. He learnt of Moses's passing in a phone call from a family member Tuesday afternoon.
He said he'd known Moses for as long as he can remember.
"He was always somebody that lit up a room whenever he was around," Kyikavichik said.
He last spoke with Moses just a week ago, when Moses called to extend condolences for the loss of a family member.
"This is somebody who was always thinking of others," Kyikavichik said.
"Just sharing his thoughts and checking in to make sure myself and my family were doing okay. Those types of calls from him were common."
Kyikavichik said Moses's enthusiasm in the areas of sport, health and wellness were clear from a young age.
He recalled Moses organizing baseball and hockey games and always acting as "a bit of a ringleader" when it came to getting a game started.
Still, Kyikavichik said that for Moses, family always came first.
