Chief Paul Niditchie (1881-1955) is our school’s namesake.
Paul Niditchie was born in 1881 around Arctic Village in Alaska. Paul spent all of his time on the land with his family living at such places as Big Rock and Sitidgi Lake in the Mackenzie Delta, up the Arctic Red River and towards Snake Lake in the mountains, and on the Kugaluk River. Paul was well known from Fort Good Hope to the coast. In 1921, as the first chief for the community of Tsiigehtchic (formally Arctic Red River). Paul was one of the signatories to Treaty 11. Paul was chief of Tsiigehtchic from 1921-1936. Gwichya Gwich’in Elders remembered that Paul was a great storyteller and enjoyed joking around. He had a good memory and knew how to play the drum. Chief Paul passed away in 1955.