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Beloved elder celebrated by family, friends and community
'We're so grateful' says daughter in law

Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 29, 2015

RANKIN INLET
Madeline Makkigak celebrated her 100th birthday July 11, and with that celebration came an outpouring of love and respect.

NNSL photo/graphic

Madeline Makkigak, seen here at Nunavut Day celebrations, celebrated 100 years of life July 11, surrounded by family and friends. - photo courtesy of Marilyn Sullivan

Her family and friends and, indeed, many from the community, celebrated from 5 p.m. onwards at the Singiituq Complex in Rankin Inlet.

Lucy Makkigak, Madeline's daughter-in-law, helped organize the event.

"The birthday party turned out really good," she said.

One highlight was a memento of the matriarch for Makkigak family members.

"All her immediate family, like grandchildren, children, all received T-shirts with her picture on it. Those are the ones I ordered from Winnipeg way in advance, two, three months ago."

Lucy says not all grandchildren and great-grandchildren who live out of town managed to get to Rankin.

But the evening included a rather special moment in time within an already considerable milestone.

"Her great-great-grandson turned two on her birthday, too. It was extra-special."

The whole community was welcome to the feast.

"We had some games. It turned out really good. She had fun. We all had fun. We had a fiddler come in from Taloyoak. We had an accordion player come in from Baker Lake. We just danced the night away.

"It is amazing. She has so many stories. The past ... stuff I can't even imagine."

Lucy's daughter, Josephine Makkigak, agrees on every point, including that it was "lots of fun."

"Lots of people came from out of town," she said.

"There were people from Whale Cove, Baker Lake, Taloyoak."

Lucy says Madeline was diagnosed with cancer last year.

"But she's still here with us. We're grateful."

Lucy says the hall was pretty full so she estimates about half the community was there. Benton Lowe was asked to take family photographs.

"And we had a whole-family photo taken," she said, adding once she gets the prints she will distribute them to family members, with one destined for Madeline herself.

There were no speeches this year, those happened at Madeline's 99th birthday party, also a big shindig with Nunavut MP Leona Aglukkaq in attendance, along with municipal officials.

This year, folks danced deep into the night, with festivities wrapping up after 2 a.m.

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