ZEBA – Saddened and shocked by the loss of two young men, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community gathered to celebrate the life of 23-year-old James Frederick “Jimmy” Shelifoe Jr. in a traditional native ceremony.

About 200 people were on hand Wednesday at and around the packed Zeba Hall to say goodbye to a young father who gave his life while on his way to protect the lives of strangers threatened by the Box Canyon wildfire in Utah.

“Jimmy was a humble man,” said KBIC’s Paul Halverson, holding eagle feathers. “It’s very hard. There’s no time limit on grief. Let it happen. Hold your heads up.

“They went out because that’s what they do,” Halverson said. “You’re serving the people. You don’t do things in a selfish way. No one expected what happened.”

The Four Thunders singers and drummers provided ceremonial music as traditional herbs burned to purify the site and the minds of those present at the funeral – a sacred service at which pictures are not allowed. Photography was also banned during burial at the tribal cemetery.

Shelifoe leaves behind a daughter, Ciara Shelifoe of Baraga; fiancee, Ivory Charging of Baraga; mother, Sharon (Charles) Sliger of Covington; an father James F. Shelifoe Sr. of Baraga; brothers Jordan Shelifoe of Baraga, Austin Shelifoe of Zeba, Javon Shelifoe of Baraga; sisters Virginia (Justin Hartzog) Shelifoe of Baraga and Jailyn Shelifoe of Baraga; grandparents Robert and Sandra Kantola of Fargo, North Dakota, and Loren and Rose Kariainen of Covington; and niece Aubree Hartzog. Numerous aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. He was preceded in death by his grandmother Virginia Emery; aunt Brigitte Shelifoe; and his uncles Gerald Shelifoe, Frederick Shelifoe, Jr. and Allen Shelifoe. Jimmy was buried in the Pinery Cemetery.

Tears flowed as family and friends came to grips with the senseless tragic accident Saturday near Minneapolis that claimed not only Shelifoe’s life, but another Beartown firefighter.

“The family is what’s going to get us through this time,” said KBIC President Chris Swartz. “Respect our brother as a brother.”

Tribal Council Secretary Susan LaFernier presented the family with a plaque to honor Shelifoe’s sacrifice.

Swartz was one of several KBIC Tribal Council members who choked upwhile talking at the funeral.

“My heart goes out to the family,” said Councilman Eddy Edwards. “Find the joy and beauty with your family and friends.”

Edwards, who along with many others from Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, traveled to Minneapolis in order to be part of the procession that carried Shelifoe and another firefighter home.

“Every little town had firefighters lining the bridge overpasses, saluting, hands over their hearts,” Edwards said. “It was powerful.”

Alan John “AJ” Swartz, age 25, of Baraga, also died in the accident. His funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday at the KBIC Zeba Hall with Pastor Steve Rhoades officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow the funeral service.