Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
NorthernersElders13TuesdayMarch112014Aklavikeldercelebrates99thbirthdayByNATHALIEHEIBERG-HARRISONAklaviksMaryKendicelebratedher99thbirth-dayonSaturday.Ifyouweretoaskherexactlyhowshediditshewouldsayitallcamedowntotwothings.Isayfirstyoulookafteryourselfgoodsheexplained.Andthenifyouregonnahavefunkeepthemenawayshecontin-uedwithalaugh.TheelderwhonowlivesinInuvikwastreatedtoafeastatIngamoHalltomarkher99years.Morethan80familymembersandfriendssomefromasfarawayasYellow-knifecametowishherwellandsingherhappybirthday.IstillfeelyoungKendisaid.Ifeelhappyaboutev-erything.Itturnedoutgood.Kendiopenedthefes-tivitieswithaprayerinGwichin.AftershecuthercakeshejoinedeveryoneinsinginghappybirthdayoncemorethistimeforchairoftheInuvialuitRegionalCorp.NellieCournoyeawhosharesthesamebirth-dayofMar.4.TheeventatIngamoHallwasorganizedbyKendisdaughterMabelBrownwhosaidshewantedtogiveeveryoneinthecom-munityachancetostopbyandcelebratewithhermother.Shesstillsosharp.ShesstillclearandstilltellspeoplestoriesandstufflikethatBrownsaid.Ithinkshedbemorelikesomewhereinher80s.KendiwasbornonMar.41915inacampnearAk-lavik.WhenshewassixyearsoldshewassentbyboattoHayRivertoat-tendresidentialschool.Shestayedtherethreeyearsuntilanunclebroughtherbacktothedelta.ShemarriedAlfredKendiin1932andtraveledthrough-outtheRichardsonMountainsandMackenzieDeltawithhimhuntingandtrappingbydogteam.Herhusbanddiedin1965andBrownsaidMarycon-tinuedwithalifeofservice.ShesatonAklavikscouncilformanyyearssharinghertraditionalknowledgeoftheregiontohelppositivelyim-pactdecisions.Shestilltellsoldtimesto-riestraditionalstoriesandshetalkstousinthefamilyabouthowtohuntandtrapBrownsaid.Isayrstyoulookafteryourselfgood.Andthenifyouregonnahavefunkeepthemenaway.MaryKendiEmmaDickleftandSarahTingmiakrightwishMaryKendicentreahappybirth-day.Kenditurned99onMar.4andcelebratedwithapartyinInuvikonMar.8.MaryKendigetsreadytocutherbirthdaycakeasdaughterMabelBrownlookson.Ithinkshedbemorelikesomewhereinher80sBrownsaidofhermothersyouthful-ness.MaryKendis99thbirthdayfeastincludedcaketriecaribouandbannock.LesliKisounwasoneofthemanyyouththatattendedMaryKendis99thbirthdaypartyinInuviklastSaturday.Morethan80peopleattendedsomefromasfarasYellowknife.PhotosNathalieHeiberg-Harrison