Flags around the territory are flying at half-mast today in honor of Allen. They will again fly at half-mast on the day of his funeral.

In pretty much continuous motion, striving for the recognition of aboriginal rights and title to land, is perhaps how the grand chief will be remembered. From the days when he was first elevated to the chair of the Council for Yukon Indians in 1977, Allen was immersed in Indian Politics at the local and national levels.

The council was formed in 1973 as a vehicle to represent the interests of status and non-status Indians in the territory during land claim negotiation.

In February 1980, with Allen as chair, the Yukon Native Brotherhood and the Yukon Association of Non-Status Indians were dissolved. The council became the sole political body to represent the interests of all Yukon Indians.

Through the early 1980s, Allen sat at the helm as Yukon first nations butted heads with Ottawa and the Yukon government. The territorial government fought against the objections of first nations to become a full partner in land claims negotiations.

It was a time when the evolving nature of land claim settlements was opening up new ground and posing new uncertainties for first nations, in terms of what was ultimately possible through settlement agreements.

In 1984, an agreement-in-principle was reached by federal, territorial and CYI negotiators. The pact, however, failed to garner the required support from Yukon first nations. The land claim process, with the rejection of the agreement and a change in national government, essentially came to halt while Brian Mulroney's Tories developed a new claims policy.

For Allen, 1985 would bring his first appointment by Yukon chiefs as the northern-vice chief for the national aboriginal organization, the Assembly of First Nations.

Over the next decade, as he continued to carry the national aboriginal portfolios for education, land claims and such, Allen maintained the support from local chiefs - and the first nations in the Northwest Territories, before the appointment of a vice-chief for both jurisdictions. Although involved nationally, Allen was never far away. His presence was common-place at meetings among Yukon first nations, whether at regular leadership meetings or annual general gathering.

Just over a year ago, he officially returned to the Yukon fold with his interim appointment as chair of the council to replace Judy Gingell, who had just been appointed as Yukon commissioner.

"The challenge will be to deal with 14 first nations at different stages of their agreements," Allen said in an interview after his interim appointment. "We want to deal with issues collectively, but also to allow flexibility for first nations that may want to do something a different way."

Last August, at the council's annual general meeting, Allen accepted appointment as full-time leader of the newly-named organization, the Council of Yukon First Nations.

The top position was also renamed from chair, to grand chief.

It was an emotional Allen who accepted the appointment.

"I want to say I look forward to working with our people, our elders, and I think the message is very clear that we should move forward," he said, before specifically thanking Doris.

"She is always there... We will become strong as first nations because we are going to do it all together as one people .... I want to ask the great spirit on behalf of all of us to help us move forward."

Allen was known more now for his decades of involvement with the Yukon aboriginal movement. However, there was also a time before politics when his name carries a different ring, but perhaps just as loud.

Senator Paul Lucier recalled this morning how, in the early 1960s, he recruited a young Harry Allen and two other "young fellows" to play with the senior league hockey club he coached.

"He had skinny little arms then, but he could shoot the puck like a bullet," Lucier said. "I think he was about the first guy I knew who could shoot a puck like a rocket.. Fast? You could chase him all over the ice, but you couldn't hit him."

In those days of senior hockey, said the senator, there was nothing opposing players would have liked more than to hit Allen, a solid goal scorer and checker.

"I started knowing him through hockey, but then I followed him through the years as chair of CYI, working for the aboriginal people. It's just a tremendous loss to the aboriginal people and all of us," Lucier said.

".......I do not want to overemphasize his sports, but the person he was. He was just a real good guy to have around; a guy to have on your team, and he was the same for the aboriginal people... It is a tragedy for everybody in the Yukon. We are going to miss him."

In the House of Commons earlier today, Yukon MP Audrey McLaughlin informed her fellow members of Allen's death.

"Mr. Allen made a tremendous contribution to his community and to aboriginal peoples throughout Canada," McLaughlin told the House." ....I'm sure all Yukoners and the members here today will join me in paying tribute to a true leader and a great spirit, Grand Chief Harry Allen.

Whitehorse Star Reporter Chuck Tobin