INUVIK - Neil Firth remembers the day he walked unsuspectingly into the Nihtat Gwich'in Council office.

"I came in and they said, 'you're going to work for us on mail contracts.' And I said, 'OK,'" he laughed. "That was 15 years ago."

Neil Firth, a long-time employee of the Inuvik Native Band, laughs as his co-workers gather round to recognize his 15 years of service. - Katie May/NNSL photo

Surrounded by his colleagues at a celebratory lunch in his honour last Friday, the 59-year-old father of two daughters looked back on his experience with the band since that first day in 1995, declaring that "the people, the camaraderie and meeting new people," have been the best parts of his job so far.

Luckily for those who have enjoyed Firth's sharp sense of humour and strong work ethic - not just in the mail room but also on the Gwich'in Renewable Resource Board and as a voice of experience for many other local endeavours - he's not going anywhere.

"I'm too young to retire!" he emphasized.

The party - meant to be a surprise until word leaked out in the final hour - was a necessary way for the band to show appreciation for one of its most valued employees, said Chief Herbert Blake. They didn't want to let 15 years of dedication slip by unnoticed.

"It's incredible" for someone to remain committed to a local organization for so long, Blake said, attributing Firth's length of service to his wealth of knowledge about aboriginal issues and, of course, his unflappable comic timing.

"A lot of times when you work for an aboriginal political organization, things tend to be politicized," said Blake. "In spite of that, he's found a way to set those things aside and work for the good of our people."

Through the years, Firth has worked with both Gwich'in and Inuvialuit organizations, getting involved with land and wildlife protection and particularly enjoying his work on caribou management plans. Firth said he can't foresee a day when he'll stop loving what he does and said he feels lucky for that.

His coworkers hope he's lucky, too, in a more material sense. They all pooled together and bought him a bunch of lottery tickets, wishing for a repeat of Firth's big $100,000 lotto win in January 2009. Asked if he'd share his potential new prize, Firth cheekily replied - to roaring laughter: "This is my day, not anybody else's."

Jokes aside, Firth said he was surprised and humbled everyone took time out to have lunch with him - and even give speeches about him - in his 15th year on the job.

"It was a good feeling being honoured by my fellow workers," he said, explaining he's not one to wax poetic.

"I'm the kind of guy who doesn't expect much," he smiled. "If it happens, it happens. If not, tomorrow's another day."

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