SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 97-year-old Dettah man is $1 million richer after winning the Set For Life lottery on Saturday.

Michel Paper bought the scratch ticket at the lottery kiosk at the downtown Extra Foods grocery store while waiting for his son to finish his doctor appointment across the street.

97-year-old Michel Paper, left, who won $1 million in the Set For Life lottery last weekend, stands next to his son Frank in their home in Dettah on Tuesday. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

"My dad was waving at me so I went over," said Frank, Paper's son. "I thought he wanted me to translate something but he told me, 'The lady said I won something.'"

Frank asked the woman at the lottery kiosk if he had won anything but she wouldn't provide him with any information until Frank told her that he was Michel's son.

She then showed Frank the ticket.

"I saw a one with a whole bunch of zeroes and thought, 'Holy smokes,'" said Frank.

He told his father that he had won the large sum of money and "he just stood there."

Frank said both of them play the lottery regularly.

Set For Life lottery winners have the choice of receiving $1,000 a week for 25 years or a lump sum of $1 million. Because of his age, Paper decided to take the lump sum.

He plans to buy a house for his son and his two grandchildren.

"With him, family comes first," said Frank.

He added his father plans on using some of the money for a big Christmas feast in Dettah.

"He never forgets whoever helped him," said Frank.

The win doesn't come as a surprise to people in Dettah.

"Two or three weeks ago he told me he was going to win the big money," said Natasha Landry, who works with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. "He sees things before they happen."

Rather than being a prophet, Frank said his father's winning comes from having faith in God.

"I'm just so happy for him," said Frank.

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