Our dad, Andrew was born Sunday, May 4, 1930 in Split Lake MB. He was the third of four sons born to Thomas and Lucy Kirkness. He lived in Split Lake, Ilford and the trap line until he was sent to Residential School in Elkhorn MB for eight years. On January 4, 1949 Dad married the love of his life, Eliza Moore in Thicket Portage MB. They celebrated 62 years of marriage this year. They resided in Thicket Portage and began to raise their family; they had one daughter and nine sons. Dad worked at a lot of different jobs and with many different people. He learned to fish and trap, this was something he enjoyed doing for the rest of his life whenever he had the time. He worked for the Canadian National Railway (CNR) in Thicket Portage MB. He eventually ended up as section foreman. During an outing in Thicket Portage with his friend the late Bev Lamb he was hooked through the nose and had to be taken all the way to Thompson by gas car. He said “That was the only thing big that Bev ever caught”. He also worked for the Forestry Department building fire towers and eventually becoming the fire boss in Thicket Portage. Dad also worked with a young man by the name of Dave Buck who sent a story about how he enjoyed the kind of work they did. “Sorry to hear about your dad's passing....I was thinking back to the first time I met him...was in the spring of 1968, I believe....I has just joined the Dept. of Natural Resources and was told that Andrew Kirkness was the best fire tower builder that the Dept. had...and Stan Williamson sent me to Hemming Lake with your dad and his crew to construct the Hemming Lake Tower...After packing all the steel up the hill...which took two days....Andrew had me working with him assembling the twenty foot steel corner girders and bolting all the cross pieces.....pretty tough work for a young rookie......After several days, we finally reached the top of the 80 foot tower and fastened down the plank floor (no walls yet), Andrew got up there and did a little jig....I remember the safety belts were really old and either snugged you too tight to the girders or were so loose that they were of little use.....and I remember that even though I was a green horn who did not know anything, your dad treated me like an equal, and I have never forgotten that….Dave B” In 1969, dad relocated his family to The Pas and remained there until his passing. Dad was very passionate about politics and just trying to help people with their problems. People would come and ask for help and he would never turn them away. He would do his best all the time and he would never quit until he got the results. He worked for Ron McBride who was the Minister of Indian Affairs. He worked with Tom Nepitabo, Gary Anderson and Elijah Harper. They were known as the Fantastic Four. He once told his boss “If you don’t like what I’m doing, you can always quit”. During his travels he met and loved to talk to people and he remembered them all. He ran for the Liberal Party in the Churchill constituency during the Trudeau era. Former Prime Minister, The Right Honorable Paul Martin called to send his condolences to the family and to express his appreciation for Dads contributions in improving people’s lives. Dad had once attended a Liberal Fundraiser for Jean Chretien and his friend the late Izzy Asper got him a ticket. Izzy had watched and waited for dad to come and join him at his table, but dad never showed up. He then noticed dad sitting with Prime Minister Chretien and his wife at the head table. Mr. Asper found him after the supper and asked him “What, You too good for us?” Dad replied “No, I figured I would be served faster”. Dad co-found Indian Council of First Nations Inc. and was Grand Chief for about twenty years, until he retired. He still continued to help people even though he was “retired.” Dad always returned home to tell mom of his travels and update her about the people that they knew. They travelled together to Edmonton to attend a supper with Queen Elizabeth II. They were also selected as Foster Parents of The Year. We always had a lot of kids in our home as we were growing up. That is something he always enjoyed having around. He was an active member of Christ Church in The Pas and always sat with his friends Lloyd Dick and the late Bev Lamb. He enjoyed having his grandchildren and great grandchildren around. He loved to tease them and teach them little things like how to shake hands properly. He enjoyed taking Mom and their grandchildren out to the trap line, just to be outdoors with them. Dad was always with his oldest grandson Shawn. They travelled into the bush all the time hunting and trapping. The “Old Man” as we called him was the brains and Shawn was the “Brawn”. Unfortunately everything had to be put on hold when our Mother became ill. Dad spent all his time looking after her right up until he had to go for heart surgery. Sadly Dad left us Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 6:23am. He went to Heaven to join his parents, brothers and sons. Andrew is sadly missed by his wife of 62 years Eliza and their children; daughter Irene (Al); sons Marcel (Shelley), William (Gwen), Dennis (Priscilla), Tommy (Loretta), Greg (Debbie) and Irvin (Thelma); grandchildren Shawn (Tracy), Shane (Cheryl), Dylan, Amber, Eliza-Jean, Allannah, Lacey, Jeffery (Phoenix), Erin, Chloe, Zach, Garrett, Erika, Simone, Nevada, Courtney, Cari, Leslie, Jenna, Beth, Luc, Krissy, Stephen, Brent, Marie, Brooke; great-grandchildren Tiffany, Ezekiel, Bridget, Simon, Athan and Chaz; brothers-in-law Cyril Moore, Joe Moore, Marcel Mercredi (Dorothy), Peter Mercredi (Norma); sister-in-law Sarah Guay (Clayton); nieces Verna Flett and Flora Morris; numerous nieces and nephews. As well as his hunting buddy Sam Peters. Andrew was predeceased by his sons John, William, Leslie and infant son; parents Thomas and Lucy Kirkness; in-laws Johnny and Evelyn Moore; brothers and sisters-in-laws John and Maggie Kirkness, Tobil and Sarah Kirkness, Sandy Kirkness; brothers and sisters-in-laws: Adam and Katie Moore, Jessie Moore, Marie Moore, Arthur Moore, Adelaide Moore, C.R. North, Amelia North, Rita Mercredi, Louis Mercredi, Louisa Moore; nephews Adam Kirkness, Ernest Kirkness. Wake services were held Thursday, November 10, 2011 and Friday, November 11, 2011 at the Margaret Henderson Parish Hall, Church of Redeemer, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Manitoba. The funeral service for Andrew was held Saturday, November 12, 2011, 11:00 am at Christ Church Anglican, The Pas, Manitoba with Rev. Rebecca Graham presiding. Music ministry was provided by Isobel Halcrow, the Christ Church Choir and Norm Cook. Thanksgiving for Andrew’s life was shared by grandchildren Tom Nepitabo (Cree) and Tracy Kirkness. Following interment prayers at Lakeside Cemetery, The Pas, family and friends gathered at the Christ Church Anglican Parish Hall for a time of fellowship and refreshment. Pallbearers were all Andrew’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. If friends so desire, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 200-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 0S6, would be appreciated by Andrew’s family.