Alfred Semple (b. 1920)

Alfred Semple was born in Mayo to parents Johnny and Alice Semple who were originally from Fort McPherson. Fort McPherson people often travelled around the Hart River area in the mountains. Johnny Semple was an Anglican minister who used to read bible passages to Alfred when they were out on the trap line. In those days, people often moved between Fort McPherson and Dawson to get their supplies. The family stayed in Mayo for a while before moving back to Dawson where Alfred grew up. His family, along with Alfred Bonnetplume's family, and Joe Henry moved to Calico City, north of Black City, in the Blackstone River area.¹⁾

Alfred's mother taught him to read and write English when he was nine years old. Alfred lived at the Carcross Residential School from 1930 to 1939 and almost lost his language. When he returned home, he worked with a mining company and travelled for nine days to Hungry Lake by dog team to trap for the winter.²⁾

Alfred married Catherine Vittrekwa, daughter of Willian and Ellen, in 1944 at Fort McPherson and they made their first home in the Black Mountain area on the Husky Channel. They lived at Hungry Lake in the fall of 1960 and netted 500 jackfish for their six dogs. They got almost 200 martin pelts before Christmas. Alfred and William Snowshoe made a trip to Dawson to trade their furs.³⁾

Alfred and Catherine settled near Aklavik when their children were ready for school. Children: Alice, Caroline, Philomene, Annie, Richard, Elizabeth, George, Robert and Emily.⁴⁾