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TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON
Philip Blake, who died at the age of 71 on July 1, had been a multi-term mayor, councilman, owner of a taxi business, revered hunter and fisher, and an outstanding canoe captain.

Philip Blake was captain of the 1970 Centennial Canoe Race's winning team. He died July 1 at age 71. - photo courtesy of Tetlit Gwich'in Council

Peter James Vittrekwa said the team Blake lead to victory in 1970 during the Centennial Canoe Race is still remembered by not only residents of Fort McPherson, but in many communities around the territory.

"He did the centennial canoe race that came from Fort Providence toward Fort McPherson and then they went back to Aklavik and then ended off at Inuvik," said Vittrekwa.

"It was a huge canoe race that day. Most of the communities were involved with it and they actually won that race."

The canoe race had been part of the 1970 celebrations honouring the 100th birthday of the NWT. The royal family toured the territory during the centennial and were present on the day of the race.

Blake was team captain of the six-man canoe team that ultimately won the race after travelling more than 1,700 km in 18 days.

Susan Blake, band manager for the Tetlit Gwich'in Council and Philip's sister-in-law, recalled a story about the race launch where Prince Charles walked amongst the spectators and Prince Phillip started the race with a rifle shot.

The teams had also lined up before the race and each met Queen Elizabeth personally.

Susan said Philip finished four major canoe trips over the course of his life. One of which took him from Vancouver to New York in honour of Expo '67. She said stories in the community say Philip met country music icons George Jones and Buck Owens on that trip to New York.

Philip was always closely tied to the land, regardless of what other obligations he had on his shoulders at the time. He returned to a traditional lifestyle wholeheartedly once he retired from local politics.

"Once he retired, once he wasn't in as mayor anymore, he just did on-the-land things," said Susan. "Strictly that, hunting and fishing."

"He still did it last year," said Vittrekwa. "I remember he was still setting nets and fishing on the Peel River here. Still doing the usual, normal way of life, the traditional way of life. That was his livelihood.

"Ever since he was young ... he would go on hunting trips with a lot of the elders that are passed on now."

Vittrekwa, who is almost 30 years Philip's junior, remembers the former mayor as a prominent community member and a strong force in local politics.

Vittrekwa said Blake had been one of the first community members to work with the territorial government when it first entered the community and frequently acted as a liaison between the GNWT and the community of Fort McPherson.

In later years, Vittrekwa and Blake served on council at the same time, and Blake's seasoned experience in local politics showed through in his presence at council.

"On council, he wasn't afraid to speak, and being an original member, he knew what was needed in the community," he said. "He always gave his opinion. He didn't sit there and say nothing. If there was an issue to be discussed, he was in on it."

Philip died from complications of amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's disease - and a funeral was held July 4 in Fort McPherson.

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