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INUVIK - Local elder Billy Day is being remembered for his decades of work and determination for the Inuvialuit people.

Day spent much of his life working with aboriginal leadership to become involved with the political happenings in the region.

Left to right, Shirley Firth Larsson, Billy Day and Sharon Firth were honoured at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards in 2006. Day died July 26. A funeral was held on July 31. - NNSL file photo

Day died July 26 at the age of 78.

Inuvialuit Regional Corporation CEO Nellie Cournoyea said Day's interest and hard work for aboriginal issues will set the bar for future development and growth in the region.

"Even as a young man, Billy was always contributed to the well-being of the Inuvialuit," she said, adding Day was active in Inuvialuit communities well before the land claim was settled in 1984.

"He was a hard worker. He was one of the people who wanted things done right," she said.

"He always wanted to make sure we were on the right path."

Cournoyea said that Day was always giving to others and offering assistance.

"Dependence was always something difficult for Billy Day," she said.

"He never wanted anything for himself. It was always for others."

She recalled the times when Day would take in others who needed a place to sleep.

"When everyone was going home for the day, he would bring them to his house if they had nowhere to go," she said.

"He was always a very dedicated person."

Cournoyea remembers growing up on the land and how much time Day would spend at his camp.

"We didn't trap in the same areas, but I remember that he wouldn't get much time to trap because he was always reading," she said.

"In the end, I was always calling him professor Day because he loved to read so much."

She said that because Day kept himself educated and knowledgeable, he was a great asset in land claims negotiations.

Even in his later years, Day would stay active in the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and their partners.

"He would call me up and say he heard some things and wanted to get clarification," she said.

He was active in the enrollment committee and co-management boards this year.

Long time friend Edward "Hoppy" Elanik said Day was a good friend who was always ready to assist you if you needed help.

"He was such a nice man, always working for others," said Elanik.

Elanik remembers seeing Day help others who couldn't be on the land trapping anymore.

"He helped people settle into town from on the land," said Elanik.

If you needed help with a trapline, Day was the one who could help, he said.

"He was a good man," said Elanik.

In 2006, Day's peers recognized his lifetime achievements with an Aboriginal Achievement award.