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Paddy Jim, One of the Last Ties to the Old Ways, Passes Away at 96

Tuesday, 12 November 2019 16:40

Paddy Jim was a respected elder of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations

Well known and respected Champagne and Aishihik elder Paddy Jim has passed away over the weekend at 96 years of age.

Born in 1922 to Maggie and Little to a family of 10 children in Chemi, Yukon, Jim lived an incredibly full life whose education came from his family on the land and the waters.  Some of the many jobs Jim had over his lifetime include horse wrangler, crane operator, helping clear Whitehorse airport with a bow saw, rodeo man, hunting guide, steam ship worker, and building russell fences. He has assisted many First Nations within the Yukon with traditional tool building and has worked with many groups and organizations to advocate language and culture revitalization.

It is an emotional time in the community and Champagne and Aishihik chief Steve Smith commented on the response.  “The community is mourning the loss of one of the last true ties to life in the Yukon before contact.  He brought a lot of skills and he was a great teacher.”

Smith also commented on the legacy that Jim will have within the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation, as well as the community at large.  “He spent a lot of time going to schools, going to culture camps of various First Nations and he was always really, really happy to share what he knew and thought was his path, was to share with people the immense amount of knowledge that he had”

Jim’s loss has been mourned by many in the Yukon and along with the Champagne and Aishihik multiple other First nation governments have closed their offices for a day in solidarity.

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