Yellowknife (July 30/04) - Even after 90 years on this earth Juddith Buggins does not feel like an old person.

"I still think like I'm a young person, like it was yesterday," Buggins said while celebrating her birthday on Monday.

As a young child, life was very different for Buggins.

She was born on the barren land around Lutsel K'e and lived on the land with her family. She never saw a community until she was 13 and visited Lutsel K'e.

She married at 20 and continued to live on the land between Lutsel K'e and Deninu Ku'e.

Life was hard in those days. Hunting and butchering animals, tanning hides to make clothing and taking care of sled dogs were all a part of daily life.

Life could be hard. Seven of Buggins' 11 children died while she was living on the land. But today she is surrounded by many grand children. She teaches them to respect, support and learn from each other. She tells them not to get into trouble, because if you do it means you've broken respect.

She also tells her family not to worry about things, put aside insults and to live day to day. She may not live on the land any more, but she is glad to be with her family in the land the Creator placed them.

"This is our land, this is where we grew up," Buggins said. She lives in the city now, but won't forget the old days when she had to hunt animals and climb mountains.

"I still feel like I could do that," Buggins said.