Julius Kendi (1876 -1948)
Julius Kendi was Tukudh Gwich’in, born at Lapierre House on the Bell River.1) In 1899, Bishop Reeve confirmed thirty-four candidates at the Fort McPherson and they included Julius Kendi and Amos Njootli.2)
Kendi was ordained as an Anglican catechist by Bishop Stringer in 1910.3) He was a catechist at the headwaters of the [Porcupine] River from 1911 to 1913.4) He arrived at Fraser Falls on the Stewart River in 1915 and spoke to the Na-Cho Nyäk Dun who were there drying fish. They decided to establish a village two miles below the village of Mayo on the opposite banks of the Stewart River. This site is now known as Old Village.5) Kendi stayed at the old Village near Mayo from 1915 to 1918.6)
Reverend Kendi was ordained Deacon at Moosehide in 1918.7) In July 1921, the steamer Nisutlin carried Reverend Kendi, his wife, and their dogs on their way from Peel River to his new appointment at St. Mark’s at the Old Village near Mayo.8) The first church in the Old Village was built by Julius Kendi and his congregation.9)
The Kendis served at Rampart House from 1929 to 1940.10) Persis Kendi organized the Women’s Auxiliary with thirty-five members. The community had a population of 200.11)
The Kendis returned to the Old Village at Mayo from 1941 to 1946 and returned to Rampart House in 1947.12) In 1948, Reverend Kendi fell ill with meningitis after he came down the Crow River from Crow Flats. They took him down to the Fort Yukon, Alaska hospital where he died.13) Rev. Kendi’s portrait was taken in the 1930s.14)