'Keep on going, keep dancing': How Ken Baker helped inspire pride in Yukon First Nations culture
'Mothers would tell their sons, 'watch Kenny... you'll follow Kenny, then you'll know what to do.'
Ken Baker died while doing something that would surprise none who knew him — he was helping somebody out.
"He didn't have a lot to give away, or money, or anything like that. But he had a very big heart and he always shared that with all of us," said his cousin, Geraldine Carol James.
Baker, 58, was driving a friend home on Sunday afternoon down the Alaska Highway, south of Whitehorse, when a piece of hardware flew off a passing transport truck and into Baker's windshield, killing him.
It was a shocking and tragic end to what had been a fun and celebratory weekend in Haines Junction with friends and family, as Baker performed with and led the Tagish Nation Dancers.
"We're all still in shock," said his niece, Dawn Duquette. "Nobody expected this to happen. It's a big shock."
She describes "Uncle Kenny" as an inspirational figure — a man who valued his culture, and took great pride in sharing it, and in teaching and guiding younger generations to stay connected to it.
"He was always saying how proud he was of us, and how good we're doing, and just to keep on going, keep dancing," Duquette recalled.
"He'd want everybody to know that traditional culture is very important, and you just got to keep doing it, whatever difficulties you face."
Baker, speaking in a 1992 CBC interview, spoke plainly about why he did what he did.
"I believe it's important to know your Indian language, because it's the way of life, it's culture, and it's good to keep it alive," he said.
"It's good to sing, it's good to dance, it's good to talk."
Teacher and peacemaker
In 2012, Baker was awarded a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work promoting, teaching and preserving the Tlingit culture. James said Baker seemed to cherish the recognition.
"He was very proud of it, and you could see the difference in his spirit, and how he held himself and how he conducted himself," she recalled.
Baker became best known and recognized around Yukon — and beyond — as the compelling and spirited dance leader for the Tagish Nation Dancers. The group, now with more than 50 members, dates to 1973 and Baker had been with them almost from the start.
James, who's also one of the group's coordinators, said Baker played a key role over the years "to train up our younger boys" as fellow dancers.
"Always the mothers would tell their sons, 'watch Kenny, look at Kenny, you'll follow Kenny then you'll know what to do.'"
She also described him as a peacemaker, who helped bring people into the fold, and keep them there.
"Some people would fall away for a bit, but Kenny would always find a way to encourage us, 'come back, come back, you know, you need to dance,' — because he knew for our spirits, dancing was a way of life, and to help pull us out of our bad times," she said.
'A big legacy'
James fondly remembers the group's recent trip to Haines, Alaska, where Baker was "very brave" to showcase his regalia in a fashion show, something she says few of his peers would relish doing.
"Not too many of the older men in our culture get up and showcase themselves — they're very reserved, very held back. Whereas with Kenneth, he was not — he would get up and try new things, and be proud to show off his regalia, his culture."
Losing Baker is a big blow to the Tagish Nation Dancers, James says.
"I think those shoes are going to be pretty hard to re-fill. Kenny's leaving behind a big legacy with our people."
Duquette admits it'll be "very strange" to dance without Baker there to lead and inspire. But she says his influence, through the values he instilled in others, will live on.
"He'd want everybody to know that traditional culture is very important, and you've just got to keep doing it — whatever difficulties you face.
"I know it's going to be tough, but you can't stop. Can't stop anymore, we've got to keep on dancing."
With files from Leonard Linklater