| News one of their great leaders Dec. 21, when Chief Philip Paul died of leukemia at the age of 59. Widely known as one of West- em Canada’s great fighters for Justice for Indian people, his pass- ing drew accolades from through- Out the province. A memorial service Monday morning at LauWelnew Tribal School drew an estimated 500 people. “To me he was a leading Indian educator, political adviser and loyal friend; but most of all he was a champion of the ordinary people of our Indian Nations,” said Chief Saul Terry of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs (U.B.C.1.C). Bor in 1933, Paul was known by the name Sixelate’e (Seet Weleetsa). He graduated from Grade 12, attending St. Louis College and North Saanich High School. A noted athlete in his youth, Paul was a skilled boxer who advanced through the ranks of Golden Gloves tournaments. He later shared his skills, coaching boxing among Saanich Indian youth. In the mid-1960s, he began his political career as a councillor and later was elected chief of the Tsartlip Band. He helped found the Southem Vancouver Island Federation, serv- ing as secretary for three years and as president for two years. For two years, he was president of the Confederation of Native Indians of B.C. In 1967 Philip joined the staff of the Institute of Adult Studies (later renamed Camosun College) at Landsdowne Campus as director of Native Studies. He developed a solid Native Studies division at the college for First Nations students. Within four years the number of First Nations students increased from a handful to over 200. His work at the college laid the foun- dation for a partnership between First Nations people and Camosun College. While at Camosun College he formed a friendship and alliance with Saul Terry, who was a teacher at Camosun College. In 1971 Paul left the college and joined Saul in Vancouver to work on B.C. Indian Land Claims. He helped found the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the National Indian Brotherhood. For the next two decades he continued to advance the cause of First Nations people at local, pro- vincial and national levels, focus- ing on both land claims and native control of native education: Between 1971 and 1975, Paul was the director of land claims research for the Union of B.C. % Indian Chiefs. By protecting native land and resources, he felt Indian people _could secure their culture and future well-being. From 1975 to 1977 he was the Union’s executive administrator and from 1977 to 1980 he was director of education. In this position, Paul worked PHILIP. PAUL hard for First Nations control of Indian education, which he saw as a key building block for the future of First Nations. For Paul, this was a way to heal the damage done by the non- Indian school system, and to train the strong leaders needed by Indian communities. He had experienced the residen- tial school system himself, as a child attending Kuper Island Resi- dential School for eight years. - For three years, he shared his vision of native-controlled educa- tion throughout B.C. and Canada. In 1980, at the call of the Chiefs and Councils of the four Saanich Indian Bands, Philip returned home to put into practice his desire for native-controlled education. Serving as chairman and admin- istrator of the Saanich Indian School Board, he helped his peo- ple to fulfill the dream of building their own school system, thus gaining control of their children’s education. Paul described the school as a primary vehicle to secure the future for the Saanich children by giving them “the best of both worlds.” The result was the architectur- ally renowned LauWelnew Tribal School in Brentwood, which pre- serves native traditions while meeting provincial curriculum requirements. As board chairman, Paul over- saw construction of the school. He ensured that Saanich people were hired to teach traditional and con- temporary skills in the classroom. He assisted in the revival, study and teaching of the Sencoten lan- guage — the language of the Saanich people. : He built adult education: pro- grams and post-secondary educa- tion programs. OOK YOUR JANU: APPOINTMENT NOW! GET EADY FOR THE t NEW YEAR! Dielex Center’ The weight-loss professionuls® 748-3438 Campbell River .286-8622 Town & Country, 754-3622 Shelb MARINA COURT, SIDNEY 9843 SECOND ST. 656-9505 HOURS: Mon.-Fri.: 6:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Vicloria..477-7600 ‘Victoria —.____._361-4822 ee 598-1516 Parksville —-____248.8555,_ Colwood, Vicioria 478-3511 “Leukemia claims First Nations’ leader The Saanich First Nation lost He helped to stop a proposed marina in Saanichton Bay, joining other native leaders and environ- mentalists in a blockade and legal battle. He also helped halt further development on LauWelnew (Mt. Newton). In the late 1980s, already diag- nosed with leukemia, Paul joined with the Saanich Indian people to stop the building of a non-native school on land they claimed as their own. The school was stopped and the site was confirmed as Tsartlip Band Jand. Paul always said that his Strength and vision flowed from the history and traditional values of his people. But he respected and drew Strength from other traditions as well. He embraced Catholicism, was initiated into the Long House and was also a carrier of a sacred pipe. He always said that justice for Indian people is not their struggle alone, but will heal and benefit the non-Indian community as well. His contributions were recog- nized as early as-1967, when the City of Victoria named him Citi- zen of the Year. He was a Tsartlip Band council- lor for six years and chief for six years. Paul was appointed senator of the University of Victoria for three years, a director of the John How- ard Society for seven years, presi- dent of the Victoria Native Friend- ship Centre for three years and a board member of the First Nations House of Learning at the Univer- sity of British Columbia. In 1990, ill health forced him to relinquish his position on the Native school board. ~ He is survived by his wife Fran, his four sons Andrew, Remi, Chris and Kevin, his brother Ronnie, his sisters Dorothy Paul and Anna Spahan and many nieces and nephews. TheReview Wednesday, December 30, 1992 — A5 GOING SOUTH FOR A “SUN BREAK”? Let's us install energy efficient solar film on your motor home or fifth wheel! Reduces heat gain up to 85%, while improving privacy. 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