Paul Birckel Nashiya (1938 - 2021)
	
Paul Birckel was born in the Burwash Landing area to parents Paul and Lily Birckel. His father came from the Alsace region of France and was employed as a cook for the Jacquot outfitters. His mother’s father, Hutshi Allen, was Upper Tanana from near Tetlin and Tanacross, Alaska. He has three siblings Rose Mazur, Lucile Lacaille, and Frank Birckel. Paul attended the Burwash Catholic School, Christ the King Elementary and then the Paul X Mission in Skagway. Back in the Yukon he worked as an auto mechanic for Jack Brewster and then left to work in the Alberta oilfields at Leduc. ((Paul Birckel, Celebration of Life pamphlet.))  

Paul and Kathy Joe, who he met at Haines Junction, were married in 1960. They raised three children. Kathy and Paul ran a business to being Yukon Native products to a larger market. They lived in Haines Junction and then Paul took a job worked alongside his father with Yukon Electric from 1960 to 1974. Paul and Harold Kane became known as the Yukon roadrunners, maintaining all the diesel generators for YECL. He was challenged by racism and discrimination in the company.((Paul Birckel, Celebration of Life pamphlet.)) He worked for sixteen years with the Yukon Electrical Company Limited and became assistant superintendent. overseeing the diesel plants’ maintenance.((“Paul Birckel: Public Service (2000).” //Inspire,// 2021 website: https://indspire.ca/laureate/paul-birckel-2/))
Paul left YECL in 1975 and became the executive director of the Council of Yukon Indians in 1975. During his term, the Council undertook major land claim negotiations and an amalgamation of three Indigenous organizations.((“Paul Birckel: Public Service (2000).” //Inspire,// 2021 website: https://indspire.ca/laureate/paul-birckel-2/))
	
Paul Birckel was elected chief of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (CAFN) in 1978 and served five terms to 1998. He led the negotiations for CAFN’s land claim and self-government agreements that were signed in 1993 and came into effect in 1995. One of his biggest achievements was negotiating a pioneering child welfare agreement between CAFN and the Yukon Government in the 1990s.((Paul Tukker, “Paul Birckel, leader in Yukon land claim negotiations, has died.” //CBC News,// 9 July 2021. CBC 2021 website: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/paul-birckel-yukon-obituary-1.6095589.)) He led the creation of  Elders Benefits programs (1980), the establishment of numerous mining, forestry, construction and trucking companies, and the purchase of Yukon Inn with other First Nations.((Paul Birckel, Celebration of Life pamphlet.))

In 1996, Birckel negotiated and signed an agreement with British Columbia to co-manage Tatshenshini-Alsek Park. He was also helped establish the Yukon Native Language Centre and the Champagne-Aishihik Construction Company and Truss Plant.((“Paul Birckel: Public Service (2000).” //Inspire,// 2021 website: https://indspire.ca/laureate/paul-birckel-2/)) It was his vision that led to the development of the Matataina Resort at Kathleen Lake.((“Late chief remembered for leadership, integrity.” //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 9 July 2021.)) He participated in helping several First Nations purchase the Yukon Inn and launching a forest products division at Dakwakada, CAFN’s investment arm. He was named Businessman of the Year by the Yukon Chamber of Commerce in 1995.((Paul Tukker, “Paul Birckel, leader in Yukon land claim negotiations, has died.” //CBC News,// 9 July 2021. CBC 2021 website: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/paul-birckel-yukon-obituary-1.6095589.))

Birckle planned Taga Ku, a world class hotel and convention centre on the Whitehorse waterfront, a plan that was rescinded after a change in government by the Yukon Party. After his tenure as chief, he remained active in CAFN’s emerging self-government. He was an elder in the CAFN Senate and a delegate at CAFN and CYFN general assemblies. He was a much sought after speakers at Yukon conferences and corporate events. He was an early adopter of the newest technologies and used them to strengthen connections with family across Yukon, Canada, and France.((Paul Birckel, Celebration of Life pamphlet.))
	
In 2000, Birckel was named an Inspire Award Laurate, one of only six Yukoners to receive the award. In 2002, he was awarded the Queen’s Jubilee medal.((Paul Tukker, “Paul Birckel, leader in Yukon land claim negotiations, has died.” //CBC News,// 9 July 2021. CBC 2021 website: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/paul-birckel-yukon-obituary-1.6095589.))
	
Paul and Kathy Birckel were married for more than sixty-one years and had children Gary, Gail, and Darrel. They had an old cabin at Klukshu and, after settling in Whitehorse, Paul still spent time at his cabin at Dezadeash Lake. ((Paul Tukker, “Paul Birckel, leader in Yukon land claim negotiations, has died.” //CBC News,// 9 July 2021. CBC 2021 website: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/paul-birckel-yukon-obituary-1.6095589.)) He is remembered for his wisdom, knowledge, vision, and contributions to the wellbeing of his people.((“Late chief remembered for leadership, integrity.” //The Whitehorse Star// (Whitehorse), 9 July 2021.))