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Justa Monk, an influential B.C. First Nations leader, who survived residential school and fought for decades for Aboriginal rights, died at his home in northern B.C. early Wednesday. He was 75.

The Tl’azt’en, his home nation, announced his death.

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“He was passionate and a determined force in advancing the interests and priorities for improving the lives of the Carrier and Sekani First Nations peoples,” the Tl’azt’en said in a statement.

B.C. Premier John Horgan and former premier Christy Clark both offered their condolences.

Although he had been ill for some time, his death came as a great shock, said friend and Tl’azt’en Grand Chief Ed John: “Here is a man who had a Grade 7 education but had a practical, no-nonsense approach to get things done.”

Horgan phoned Monk’s family on his passing.

In an online post, Clark said that the province had lost a leader. “He stood up for his people with courage and tenacity. He believed, as we all should, in the vital importance of reconciliation with First Nations and he spent every day I knew him working to bring us closer to that goal.”