LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Pauline Bonnetrouge, Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation's oldest elder, celebrated her 97th birthday on March 10.

Five members of Bonnetrouge's family made the trip last week from Fort Providence to Fort Simpson to spend the day with her at long-term care.

Pauline Bonnetrouge's family travelled to Fort Simpson to celebrate her 97th birthday on March 10. The well wishers included back row, from left, grandson Keith Squirrel and Pauline's children Leon Bonnetrouge and Emily Squirrel; front row, from left, Elsie Lacorne, Pauline Bonnetrouge and Walter Bonnetrouge. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Four of Bonnetrouge's children who were present said they were very happy to be able to celebrate their mother's 97th birthday.

"It's unbelievable," said Elsie Lacorne.

Walter Bonnetrouge said he often thinks about all of the progress his mother has seen in her life, including the construction of roads in the territory and new technology, like radios.

"It's pretty amazing to live through all that," he said.

Pauline was born in 1913 in the Fort Simpson area to Jean Baptiste Simba and Helen Michel. She was one of six children in the family.

The family later moved to the Kakisa area and alternated between the community and at Tathlina Lake. When she was 20, Pauline married Joseph Marie Bonnetrouge.

The couple had nine children, two of whom died in childhood. The other children are Rose, Emily, Jonas, Bernie, Leon, and the twins Walter and Elsie. When the family lived at Tathlina Lake Pauline served as a midwife for women nearby. When the family moved to Fort Providence Pauline continued as a midwife until nurses took over.

In 1967, when her youngest children Walter and Elsie were only 12, Pauline's husband died. Emily Squirrel said her mother raised the twins by herself and took on different jobs to feed the family.

Pauline worked at the craft shop at the local mission, making crafts like moccasins, beadwork and embroidery with the nuns. She also cleaned houses and did laundry. She also continued many traditional activities.

"She used to love getting berries and setting rabbit snares," said Lacorne.

In the spring when the streams started to run Pauline would set fish nets, some of which she made herself using nylon twine. She would share her catch with any families who needed it, said Squirrel.

"She always told us if you see a person in need, to help people," Squirrel said.

Pauline has an expanding family that currently includes 17 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and eight great, great grandchildren. One of the granddaughters, Jolene Lacorne, made the birthday cake that the family brought to celebrate the occasion. Pauline managed to blow out all but one of the candles that were lit on the cake.

After learning it was her 97th birthday, Squirrel said that Pauline proclaimed in Slavey, 'I'm 97, I'm getting smarter.'"

Her other comment on her advancing age, which elicited laughter from her family was, "They're not going to make me brand new again."