OTTAWA - Fort Good Hope elder Thomas Manuel was awarded a Governor General's Medal of Bravery last week for protecting his family from an intruder on July 16, 2007.

The intruder entered Manuel's home with a rifle and fired shots at Manuel's family, including his wife Denise and three grandchildren. They ran into the bedroom and Manuel was shot in the neck and stomach before he blocked the door with a chest and made a rope out of sheets and shirts so his family could escape through the bedroom window.

After making sure the rest of his family was safe, Manuel climbed down and tried to distract the intruder, who shot him in the face.

Manuel had to go to Edmonton for surgery and police arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the incident.

Manuel was the only NWT resident to receive this Medal of Bravery

while 52 other Canadians received recognition from Governor General David Johnston at a ceremony in Ottawa Oct. 22.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington issued a press release to congratulate Manuel.

"It was a privilege to attend the ceremony and witness a fellow Northerner being honoured with this award.

Mr. Manuel faced extreme adversity and was successful in protecting his family in such a selfless manner," Bevington said in the release.

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