Yukon politicians paid their respects to the late John Edzerza in the house last Thursday afternoon.

They remembered him as a spiritual and principled man whose work touched the lives of many Yukoners.

Edzerza died in his Whitehorse home at the age of 63 after a six-month battle with leukemia. He served as the MLA for McIntyre-Takhini from 2002 until this year, sitting with the Yukon Party, as an independent and with the NDP.

Premier Darrell Pasloski recalled how he shared a moment with Edzerza at the Nov. 5 cabinet swearing-in ceremony. It was three weeks before Edzerza passed away.

"Despite his illness, he came out to show his support — a humble and heartfelt gesture that touched me and I'm sure many others in the House today.”

Pasloski said Edzerza was much more than a political figure.

"He was an elder, a partner, a father, a grandfather, and advocate and a friend,” he continued.

The Liberals' Darius Elias offered the house more personal stories about his relationship with the late politician.

Elias and Edzerza would sometimes bump into each other hunting in the mountains. Elias said he still doesn't know where Edzerza's secret sheep hunting spot is.

"All he would say to me, with a smile on his face, was, ‘It's near Zippermouth Lake,' ” he said. "To this day, I can't find that lake on any maps in southern Yukon.”

Elias also spoke of Edzerza's time as a councillor for the Kwanlin Dun First Nation. He said whenever Edzerza was faced with a challenge, backing down was never

a question.

"In one of our conversations about Old Crow, I asked his advice, and I remember him telling me, "Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done.'”

Elias said Edzerza had a warmth and calmness about him that was contagious.

Kevin Barr, the new NDP MLA for Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes, spoke on Edzerza's spiritual life. He said Edzerza had birds in his home that would fly around him and perch on his shoulder.

"As he struggled with leukemia, John was attuned to the sacredness of life ... this made it hard for him to kill even a mosquito.”

Edzerza was the second MLA to be remembered in the house last week. All three parties paid tribute to Steve Cardiff, the former NDP MLA who died in a car crash last July 6, on the second day of the sitting.

The legislature is in session for four more days before the fall sitting is adjourned Thursday.