Raised by her grandparents, who took her on their seasonal travels, Paul spent most of her childhood learning Sliammon ways, stories, and legends. Her adult life unfolded against a backdrop of colonialism and racism. As Paul worked to sustain a healthy marriage, raise a large family, cope with tremendous grief and loss, and develop a career and give back to community, she drew strength from Sliammon teachings, which live on in the pages of Written as I Remember It.
Elsie Paul, a Sliammon elder, has spent her life and career in service to others. In recognition of a lifetime of effort dedicated to supporting First Nations well-being, she received an honorary doctorate degree from Vancouver Island University in 2010. Paige Raibmon is an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of British Columbia. Harmony Johnson is Elsie Paul’s granddaughter. She holds a BA from Simon Fraser University and has served in a number of policy and executive roles in BC First Nations organizations.