Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 17/02) - Twelve years after Clem Paul saved a drowning man from the freezing winter waters of Harding Lake, he received an award from St. John Ambulance for heroism.

In the spacious office of Northwest Territories Commissioner Glenna Hansen, the president of the North Slave Metis Alliance received his plaque for the heroic deed that saved his friend Trevor Teed.

"To me you are a hero," said Hansen as she handed Paul the plaque.

On Nov. 11, 1990, Paul and Teed, along with three other friends, were going caribou hunting when Teed and Billy Balsilie fell through the ice.

Balsilie could not be saved, but Paul, paddling a yellow sleigh with a gun case toward them, strapped Teed to the back of the sleigh and hauled him to safety.

He then carried Teed on his back toward a cabin on a hill after their snowmachines failed to climb the slope.

Paul, exhausted by this time, could not carry Teed more than halfway to the cabin and pushed him to walk by pulling on his legs.

The temperature was below -20 C when they kicked in the door of the cabin where they made a fire.

"I don't think myself a hero," said Paul, now 45. "One of my friends died that day and there was nothing I could do."

But Teed considers Paul a hero.

"I'd be willing to bet there aren't too many politicians with awards for saving a life," said Teed who's known Paul since he was four years old. "When saw I him paddling toward us I knew he would get there one way or another."

"He's the kind of leader you can vote for," said Teed. "It's typical Clem."

Paul also received an award from the Governor General and was featured on the television program Hearts of Courage.