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The eldest of elders marks 100 years
Peter Kay Sr. of Fort McPherson celebrates a century of life; his daughter says he has lived so long because of his good deeds for others

John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, October 26, 2015

TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON
Wasn't that a party! Five generations of the Kay family along with hundreds of friends and other well-wishers turned out in Fort McPherson on Oct. 17 to celebrate Peter Kay Sr.'s 100th birthday.

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Peter Kay Sr. shares a laugh at his birthday party in Fort McPherson on Oct. 17. Kay turned 100 among family and friends. - photo courtesy of Diane Baxter

People travelled from as far away as Saskatchewan and the Yukon for a feast and a dance at the community complex, said Kay's daughter Diane Baxter, who lives in Inuvik. She is one of 13 children, eight girls and five boys. Kay has been married to his wife for 76 years and still live in their own home on their own.

They have close to 120 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, according to Baxter. She is the youngest of the daughters and is actually their granddaughter. She said she was adopted but she considers Peter and Mary to be her parents.

"My oldest brother was the only one who couldn't make it because he was sick," Baxter said. "His wife stayed home with him."

She said everyone was impressed and proud with the turnout.

"People came in from Inuvik and Aklavik and Tuk. My dad really enjoyed it but he didn't make it to the dance," she said. "He said he ate too much food at the feast and it made him really tired. When he got home he laid down for a nap and didn't wake up. So we just let him sleep."

The dinner was a traditional feast with caribou, geese and duck, Baxter said.

"We had nephews who had just gone hunting so we had caribou meat. We had it roasted, we had it fried. It was delicious."

Baxter said that her dad can't hear very well any more. He lost much of his hearing this past August when he fell ill, she said.

"He didn't give a speech. But he expressed how happy he was that everyone had come to celebrate his birthday. One thing about my dad is that he never gives speeches in public. He was always a very quiet and humble man."

Baxter thinks the key to her father's long life is the fact he did so much for his family and his community.

"His dad was a chief. They would go hunting together and share with their people. He did good. He credits that - his good deeds - for his longevity. He always instilled that in us kids. We always need to give to other people and share," she said.

He was a lifelong hunter and trapper - that was how he supported the family, Baxter said, adding there is no plan for the couple to move out of their home.

"When he got sick at the end of August - we thought we were going to lose him. It was amazing though. My cousin and I went home to take care of him. The community of Fort McPherson, where I am from, they just stepped up and started bringing food and feeding the family because they knew everybody in the family was busy taking care of my dad.

That's just the way Fort McPherson is. They helped out a lot and my dad made it to his 100th birthday."

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