Metis leader Clem Paul died on July 30 at age 64.

Kathy Paul, his sister, described him as a SA国际影视传媒淢etis icon.SA国际影视传媒�

For the last three years of his life, however, he had been sick.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne thing after another. He had bladder cancer, he beat that,SA国际影视传媒� Kathy said, adding that he also suffered from diabetes.

But then he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly before his death.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a mass that was growing on a tube from the pancreas to the liver. The mass was squeezing that tube, so he couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 process anything. He couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 eat anything. He ate and it came back up. He ended up basically starving to death,SA国际影视传媒� his sister said.

The Pauls came from a big Metis family of 12 siblings. Clem was born in the old Yellowknife hospital, which is where the detachment is located now. In 1958, the family moved to School Draw Avenue, where a Metis community was established.

Clem and his brothers and sisters attended a Catholic school. It was there that Clem met his best friend, Trevor Teed.

Many years later, on Nov. 11, 1990, Clem saved TeedSA国际影视传媒檚 life. After Teed fell into the freezing water of Harding Lake, Paul was able to pull Teed out, but he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 able to save Billy Balsillie, another close friend.

That night changed the surviving menSA国际影视传媒檚 lives. They both cut out alcohol and, for Teed, drugs as well.

Clem was awarded the Governor GeneralSA国际影视传媒檚 Medal of Bravery for his heroic actions.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut he always believed he failed because he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 save Billy. Even though he saved my life, he felt he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 achieve what he set out to do,SA国际影视传媒� said Teed.

ClemSA国际影视传媒檚 venture into politics began in the 1980s when he went to federal court to ensure Metis people were still recognized as Metis under the Tlicho land claim.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey wanted to commit genocide on us and make us Tlicho people without our consent,SA国际影视传媒� said Kathy. SA国际影视传媒淚t was a sad, sad situation, but Clem was a visionary and he had a plan for the North Slave, the Mountain Island Metis SA国际影视传媒� these are unique people who were Metis people who signed a treaty in 1921.SA国际影视传媒�

During his 40 years in politics, ClemSA国际影视传媒檚 political dream was to have a separate band for Metis people. He served as president of three Metis organizations: Metis Local 55, which evolved into the Yellowknife Metis Council, and he was also the president on the North Slave Metis Alliance.

Teed said ClemSA国际影视传媒檚 biggest political influence was his mom, who was SA国际影视传媒渁 very strong willed, independent lady who had really strong core values for family and friends.SA国际影视传媒�

Teed recalls that ClemSA国际影视传媒檚 mother, Theresa Paul, was the first Indigenous person that heSA国际影视传媒檚 aware of who stood up to the government and said no when they tried to move her from her home in the School Draw Avenue. She eventually succeeded in getting title to the land where she was living, he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think her influence is still seen today,SA国际影视传媒� said Teed.

He added that the last 10 years were the happiest he had seen Clem in the past three decades because he met Leone Paul, who became his wife.

Family meant so much to Clem, according to Kathy. He had three children and 11 grandchildren. She called them the highlight of his life.

After a hospital stay, he came home for two days and died surrounded by his loved ones. Before passing on, he told KathySA国际影视传媒檚 husband to just listen to the kids running around, laughing and playing.

She recalled him saying, SA国际影视传媒業snSA国际影视传媒檛 that wonderful?SA国际影视传媒� ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 all he wanted in life, SA国际影视传媒渏ust to hear the chatter of the family,SA国际影视传媒� she said.