Blair Paul was born in Juneau, Alaska in 1943 and moved with his family to Seattle two years later, where he now resides.

Blair Paul’s grandfather, William Lewis Paul, was a prominent Tlingit attorney who served as the first Native Alaskan in the Alaska legislature. Both Blair Paul’s father and uncle were also attorneys who fought for Indian sovereignty rights.

Paul attended Western Washington University in the early 1960’s, and went on to earn a law degree at the University of Washington with an emphasis on Indian law and aboriginal title rights. In addition to working on Indian issues in private practice, in 1969 he was hired by the Seattle Human Rights Department to advocate on behalf of urban Indians. While at the Human Rights Department, Paul provided support for the Fort Lawton takeover by the United Indians of All Tribes and was instrumental in helping secure a legal resolution of the standoff. He went on to serve as an original board member of the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.

Blair Paul shared his recollections in an interview with Lossom Allen and Trevor Griffey on April 26, 2006. To the right are streaming-video excerpts of the interview. Video editing by Daren Salter.  Work on this interview was made possible by a grant from 4Culture/King County Lodging Tax.