Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Tulita (Nov 15/99) - The North mourned the loss of Tulita elder Paul Wright last week when he succumbed to a short bout of cancer.

All who knew Paul said he spent his life working to make a better place for his people, preaching peace and harmony while preserving the culture of the Mountain Dene people.

Paul was born in the Mackenzie Mountains in 1921, his father a Shetagotineh and his mother from Colville Lake.

He lived and learned the traditional bush life before settling in the community that is now Tulita.

In 1942, Paul guided 500 American soldiers through the bush for the construction of the Canol Pipeline.

"They treated us good and paid us four dollars a day," he said in a 1996 interview.

"It was the first time I saw a truck and the first time I saw a bulldozer."

Paul moved to Drum Lake in 1972, where he built a lodge that he and his family continued to visit every summer.

They'd take young people out to the cabin to teach traditional values.

Commissioner Dan Marion first came to Tulita when he moved North with the Bay and grew to know Paul very well.

As most who knew the former chief, the Commissioner recalled the man's peaceful, enigmatic presence.

"He could put calm and peace in meeting, when meetings got excited," Marion recalled. "Gwich'in have different views and Dogribs have different views and sometimes our leaders can get pretty excited."

"Paul would come in and always remind them that all of them were at the table for one purpose, and he would come across so strong, that all the other leaders would reflect that and they would tone down."

Alvin Neyalle grew up in Tulita and remembers the kind, sharing nature of Paul.

"Years back, when I was a young lad growing up here in Tulita, Paul was chief then and he spoke in the Dene language at the public meetings and his wife, Mary Rose, did all the translation for visiting people," Neyalle remembered.

"It was sort of a husband and wife team effort -- they had a good thing going."

"Many times they would welcome me into their

home along with many other people, young or old," he said.

"I talked to Paul just two and a half weeks ago and he told me, 'Us leaders nowadays, we have to begin to work together and start sharing things together, to build a better community for our young people,' and that was the last thing he told me and I've really taken that to heart."

Bill Erasmus sat at the table with Paul over many years of meetings, assemblies and negotiations.

In a statement, the National Chief of the Dene Nation said Paul always spoke with a strong voice regarding treaties and caring for the land.

"This loss will affect us deeply in many ways," Erasmus stated.

"Paul Wright's many words of encouragement for us, as a nation, always held special significance and depth for all who heard him speak.

"His wisdom, caring and guidance was important to all Dene leaders."

Paul Wright is survived by his wife Mary Rose, two daughters, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.