Honourable senators, June 21 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day. Many celebrate. Many remember. It’s unfortunate, but many among us either personally struggle or have someone close who struggles with demons. It’s tragic that we lose too many people far too young.

One such person is Bruce Uviluq, the recently departed son of our former colleague, the Honourable Dennis Patterson. Here is an excerpt from Dennis’s eulogy:

About 48 years ago, in the beautiful Arctic spring, Bruce Qasigiaq Uviluq was born at the local hospital, to his mother Marie Uviluq.

The earth stopped spinning for me the moment that beautiful boy came into this world.

That boy grew up to love the outdoors and especially the glorious Arctic spring and excelled at biking, wrestling and snowmobiling.

He loved his first job patrolling in the wilderness for Parks Canada, where he rescued a senior military officer in Auyuittuq who was swept away in a raging mountain creek and lost his pack. Bruce pulled him from the raging water and saved his life.

He later devotedly worked for Nunavut Tunngavik where he negotiated agreements for parks, conservation areas, heritage rivers, impact and benefit agreements and recently implementation, and became a lifelong strong advocate for Inuit rights and benefits.

Bruce has two beloved sons, Miles and Hunter, and was devoted in teaching them the land and hunting skills he excelled at in the great outdoors he loved.

Colleagues, let us honour this beautiful, kind and selfless man, and may his spirit caress you in times of struggle like a gentle breeze.

Rest in peace, Bruce.