The late Wayne Jim is being remembered as a community leader who was committed to his family and the preservation of his culture.

“We’re extremely proud of what Wayne accomplished in his life,” Steve Smith, Jim’s first cousin and chief of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, told the Star this morning, speaking on the family’s behalf.

Jim was a leader within the community and within the family, Smith said.

As he recalled, Jim was the first First Nations person to represent the then riding of McIntyre-Takhini in the legislature. Jim was elected under the Yukon Liberal Party banner in April 2000, but later left the caucus to sit as an independent.

Smith pointed out that many had thought Jim’s election to the legislature was a long shot, as the late lawmaker was up against then NDP government leader Piers McDonald.

After an extensive campaign – which Jim’s family supported 100 per cent, as Smith said – Jim came out on top.

He took 376 votes for the seat compared to 338 for McDonald and 265 for the Yukon Party’s John Edzerza. Under leader Pat Duncan, the Liberals took power from McDonald’s New Democrats.

Jim would serve as minister for what was then the Department of Government Services.

He later crossed the floor to sit as an independent with Don Roberts and Mike McLarnon, who had also been elected to the Liberal government at the same time.

The 2000 election empowered many, sending the message to his community of what can be accomplished when you put in the work, Smith said.

Jim had also served as a councillor for the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and spent time on a number of wildlife and fishery boards in the territory over the years.

While his commitment to his culture was evident in his government roles, Smith noted his work to preserve his culture and his commitment to family was also abundantly clear in recent years as he took on the role of caregiver for his father, 96-year-old Paddy Jim, a respected elder.

It was Wayne Jim who brought his father to community events, to lead workshops and pass on his wealth of knowledge to younger generations.

Wayne Jim also always ensured the artifacts and tools his father had were kept in good care and on-hand for events where they were needed.

That’s all in addition to providing the care his father needs at home.

“(Wayne Jim) just took care of him,” Smith said of Paddy Jim.

Wayne Jim had also been very close to Smith’s father, the late Elijah Smith (a founder of the Yukon Native Brotherhood, which drafted the historic Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow document among many accomplishments as a First Nations leader). Wayne Jim had stayed with Smith’s family often through the years.

Not only would Wayne Jim and his uncle discuss politics, but it was his nephew, Elijah Smith, who would call when he needed help horse wrangling.

“He had the utmost confidence (in Wayne Jim),” Steve Smith recalled, adding that for him, his cousin was in many ways a big brother.

“We all grew up very close,” he said.

In particular, it was during childhood summers the two cousins would spend much time together at the family homestead in the Takhini River Valley.

It was there where Wayne Jim would jokingly tease his younger cousin and other family members.

“You always had to be on your toes with Wayne,” Steve Smith said.

The entire family will miss the levity Wayne Jim brought with him and the “warm smile” and laughter that was evident wherever he went.

Steve Smith said family members have been sharing photos and stories of Wayne Jim’s life, his smile evident throughout those memories.

It’s that levity and smile that a former colleague is remembering well.

Long before Wayne Jim and Roberts would enter the legislature, they were at Christ the King School – Wayne Jim as a student and Roberts as the principal.

Roberts told the Star today he didn’t spend a lot of time with Wayne Jim in those days – he was not a student who was sent to the principal’s office too often.

However, it was clear that the youngster was very engaged in school life.

“He was always a very conscientious student,” Roberts recalled.

From a young age, Wayne Jim seemed to take life and make the best of it, Roberts said.

He noted he had been “pleasantly surprised” when he learned Wayne Jim would be running under the Liberal banner in the 2000 election.

He took on the job and, as he seemed to do throughout his life, he worked hard, putting his all into his role as an MLA, the only First Nations member in the Liberal caucus, as Roberts pointed out.

Recalling the move that saw the three cross the floor of the legislature to sit as independents, Roberts acknowledged “that didn’t come easy.”

The trio had thought they were part of a team.

However, as Roberts described it, it became apparent that it didn’t seem like they were being listened to when it came to dealing with the issues as a team.

“Wayne stood by his principles,” Roberts said, crediting his former colleague with efforts to ensure that First Nations were truly engaged in the issues.

He had good ideas and was not afraid to put them forward, Roberts said, also acknowledging the late politician’s skills as a debater and writer.

Wayne Jim’s work has likely led to the current engagement efforts for First Nations in the territory and that will be part of his legacy, Roberts said.

Duncan called an early election for late 2002, ushering in 14 consecutive years of Yukon Party governments under leaders Dennis Fentie and Darrell Pasloski.

Jim was unsuccessful in his bid for re-election.