Fort Providence (Mar 28/03) - Edith Squirrel was caught off guard when she was named a Wise Woman by the Status of Women Council of the NWT.

"It totally took me by surprise. I didn't know anything about it," she recalled.

Squirrel was named the Deh Cho's Wise Woman award winner last month.

Although she was pleased, like many people, she's always associated wisdom with advanced years.

"I (asked) my friend, 'Does this confirm I'm getting old?'" she said, laughing.

Squirrel has worked with the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre in Fort Providence for over 10 years.

Most recently, she's been serving as the co-ordinator of the family life programs.

The programs offer indoor activities, such as cooking circles and craft making, and outdoor pursuits like herbal medicine gathering, berry picking and nature walks.

Squirrel noted that one of her greatest challenges is to find programs that appeal to men.

Otherwise, she has relied on the trail blazed by her predecessor, Harriet Geddes, the former life programs co-ordinator.

"A lot of the stuff that she taught me we still do (at the Friendship Centre)," said Squirrel, who added that she still seeks out Geddes for guidance today.

Paschalina Thurber, Squirrel's co-worker and one of the people who nominated her for the award, said she admires Squirrel because "She's always there for the people that she works with.

"She's always there for families when one of their loved ones passes away," Thurber explained. "She spends a lot of her time giving. To me that makes her a great person." Squirrel said she is a sober, single-mother who is trying to provide a stable, loving home for her two boys.

"If I can do it, anybody can," she said.