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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A Fort Providence elder has reached a centennial milestone.

Fort Providence elder Pauline Bonnetrouge, centre, blows out the candles on her 100th birthday cake at long-term care in Fort Simpson with the help of her children Emily Squirrel, left, Walter Bonnetrouge and Elsie Lacorne on March 10. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Pauline Bonnetrouge celebrated her 100th birthday with family members on March 10. A second party was held the following day.

"It's hard to believe that she reached 100," said Emily Squirrel, one of Pauline's children. "She still remembers all of us."

Squirrel and five of her siblings made the trip from Fort Providence to Fort Simpson to spend the day with their mother at long-term care. The were accompanied by approximately 11 other family members including grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"I can't believe that we have a person who survived that long," said Thelma Squirrel, one of Pauline's grandchildren.

Although they celebrated her 100th birthday, family members said Pauline could be older. A lack of records make it difficult to tell the exact year or even date of her birth. March 10 actually marks the date she was baptized at the age of 16. Pauline has said that she was born around Christmas time.

Long life isn't uncommon in Pauline's family. Her sister Dora Nahanni died in 2006 at the age of 104, although again her year of birth is uncertain.

Pauline was born in the Fort Simpson area to Baptiste Simba and Helen Michel. She was one of 10 children.

Simba hauled mail to different communities and moved his family to Kakisa. The family, however, spent most of their time at Tathlina Lake.

In 1934, Pauline married Joseph Bonnetrouge. The couple continued living at Tathlina. Rose Bonnetrouge, Pauline's eldest surviving child, remembers all of the traditional activities her mother used to do at the lake.

The family had two dog teams, one for Joseph and one for Pauline. Pauline would make harnesses for the dogs using hide.

She had her own snares and traps that she set as well as fish nets. Rose remembered being about six years old and going on the snare trail with her mother. At the end, they made a fire and ate one of the fresh rabbits before returning home with the dog team.

"She always worked hard all her life," Rose said.

Pauline served as a midwife for women in the area and was also called to tend for people who were sick.

Pauline was a considerate mother who made sure her children were fed and went to sleep at the right time, Rose said.

The couple had nine children, two of whom, Victor and Paul, died in childhood. The other children include Rose, Emily, Jonas, Bernie, Leon and the twins Walter and Elsie that Pauline had at age 42.

Although she never went to school, Pauline wanted to make sure her children had an education, including a religious one, so she sent them to residential school in Fort Providence. Pauline and Joseph also moved to the hamlet to be closer to their children.

In 1967, when her youngest children were only 12, Joseph died. Pauline took on a number of jobs to support the family.

She worked at the craft shop at the local mission, helping the nuns sew items like moccasins and mukluks. She also cut out kits for moccasins for other women to sew. Pauline tanned hides and beaver pelts for the nuns. She was still tanning hides at age 73 and when she stopped, she switched to knitting socks and blankets, said Emily.

Emily said on Sunday, Pauline told the family in Dene Zhatie that she's OK and they don't need to worry about her. She commented that family members came a long way to see her.

A number of the family members also attended the celebration that was held on March 11 at long-term care.

Pauline received a second birthday cake, blowing out the candles with some help. Stella Nadia, the village's deputy mayor, presented Pauline with a certificate recognizing her 100th birthday and also entertained her with a jig.

Deh Cho and Nahendeh MLAs Michael Nadli and Kevin Menicoche sent flowers for the occasion.

Leon Bonnetrouge, one of Pauline's sons, said it's amazing to think how much his mother has seen in 100 years. When she was younger, Pauline and her parents never went into settlements, they fended for themselves, he said.

Leon has a theory on how his mother survived for a century. She ate lots of good, country food and was always outside working and being active, he said.

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