Man recalls historic moments of 100 years ago

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It's hard to imagine that when Rapheal Cree was born, the Klondike gold rush was still many years away.

On Jan. 10 this year, Rapheal celebrated his 108th birthday.

Recognized by some as the oldest living Cree (and perhaps oldest Aboriginal) in Canada, Rapheal lives with his son Elmer, 69, in a small apartment at Araubaska House in downtown Fort McMurray.

Surprisingly, Rapheal, who speaks Cree and only a little English, is still "able to get around," said Elmer, who added his father is now deaf but still "keen of mind."

Elmer feels there is no formula to his father's longevity. "To be honest there is no secret to why he has lived this long. He never really exercised. He worked in the bush trapping and hunting. It was his way of life. He trapped until he was 85. There were no cars or wagons when he was growing up. He just walked or took sled dogs. I am not too sure why he is (108) . . . I am not god. He is just a man who has lived a long life."

Elmer's sister, Jean Powder, 71, credits her father's longevity to his way of life.

"He's a tough man," said Powder. "All the hunting he did in the bush and the trapping . . . be it in Fort Chip, or on the Paul Cree reserve, made him strong. He ate moose meat, deer meat, fish. No junk food. Hardly anything bought out of the store. He was never sick, and if he were he wouldn't let us know. His time was not what it is like today. Even when he was young they moved around from place to place to hunt and trap. They lived in tipis."

Both Rapheal's children say that their father "is a quiet man."

"That's just his way," said Powder, who has a sister, Louise, 75, living in Red Deer. "Strong and quiet. He never said anything bad about anyone. He didn't have much but he was a proud man. I'm happy that he is still around with us."

Elmer agreed. "My father lived a simple life. Never had a chip on his shoulder."

Rapheal was predeceased by his wife Louise, who lived to age 91, a few years ago.

Born sometime in January 1893, Rapheal was born at the Clearwater River Valley, which is near present-day Saprae Creek in Alberta.

He remembers Aug. 4, 1899 standing with his family when his uncle, Chief Seapotakinum, signed a document on behalf of his band to signify the signing of an adhesion to Treaty 8.

Adam Boucher represented the Chipewyan, in the treaty, which surrendered hunting and trapping grounds for reserves, tools and treaty money. Reverend Father Lacombe, T.M. Clarke, an interpreter, and J.A.J. McKenna, the treaty commissioner, also signed.

Rapheal insists he and others have never given up their membership in the Paul Cree band (named after his father) that they are affiliated with today. Members made national news several years ago when Rapheal and a group travelled to Edmonton to present the regional director of Indian Affairs a copy of their statement of claim.

The claim outlines $1.6 billion in damages that the Paul Cree band said they suffered as a result of the unlawful removal of natural resources from their land. An additional $500 million in damages was requested for the breach of the Treaty 8 adhesion. A declaration in the claim points to the purported surrender of 1948 as null and void.

Apart from the political battles, Rapheal Cree has seen the world change around him. For instance, when he was eight, the total population of Fort McMurray was only 28 people.

Rapheal does not mention his birthdays anymore.

"He knows it's coming up, but it's no big deal for him," said Elmer. Anyway, how are they going to fit 108 candles on the cake?

Happy birthday, Rapheal Cree.