Metis Elder turns 100 years old

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Amidst balloons, cake and camera flashes, 200 friends, family and relatives of Annie Goulet celebrated her birthday on April 1, at the High Prairie Legion. A collage of photos adorning a wall showed Goulet and her family as they were. For the last 100 years Goulet has seen a lot of changes in society, such as transportation by a dogteam or a team of horses becoming transportation by cars and planes. She'd also lived through two world wars and numerous changes in technology.

Relatives and family attending the celebration came from as far away as Quesnell B.C. as well as from Edmonton, Grande Prairie, High Prairie and the surrounding area. Goulet smiled throughout most of her time at the hall but did not make a speech. She is not able to walk so she spends most of her time in a wheelchair.

"She is slowly changing; she is not as spry as she was last year. It feels good to celebrate our roots from way back. I think that it is very important. I felt like it we were a part of history," said Janet Cook, Goulet's daughter. "The large legacy that my mother will be leaving is her grandchildren and on. Her family will continue from generation to generation carrying on her beliefs and values," she said.

The party included a dinner, speeches, birthday cards being read and a country and western dance that closed out the celebration.

Some of the cards she received were from the Right Hon. Adrien Clarkson, Governor General of Canada; Premier Ralph Kline; Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Lois Hole; and Queen Elizabeth.

Distinguished guests who were on hand to wish Goulet a happy birthday included Audrey Poitras, president of the Metis Nation of Alberta, Cecil Bellerose, vice-president for Zone IV, as well as other members from the Metis associations in Alberta; and Pearl Calahasan, associate minister responsible for Aboriginal affairs.

"I'm really pleased to be here. What do you say to someone who is 100? I'm still a baby compared to what she's gone through," said Calahasan. "Very few people get to see 100 years old, she has always been there for people and today I want to tell her that other people thank her," she said.

Records indicate that Goulet was born in Hart River, Alta. on April 10, 1900. She lived all of her life around the High Prairie area. Goulet, whose maiden name was Carifelle, married Theodore Goulet when she was 16. They had 15 children, 10 of whom attended the party. Goulet and her husband farmed in Salt Prairie Alta. She lost her husband 30 years ago from heart failure.

She is grandmother to 67 grandchildren, 148 great-grandchildren, 45 great-great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-great-grandchildren.

Each member of the family was given a leaf cut out. The green leaf symbolized each of the relatives that were there. Ten of Goulet's children each hung a white leaf on the tree, representing each of the family members who were deceased.

"Mom and dad were the root of the tree, the beginning," said Cook.

Hundreds of relatives shook hands, made introductions and shared a laugh or two as they reminisced about old times.

"It was great to gather with the rest of the relatives. My kids got to meet a lot of the cousins that they never met before. I guess meeting most of their relatives will teach them about their roots and where they came from," said Cook. "It was also a chance to meet old acquaintances. I have to say that the people who were responsible for decorating the hall did a great job. Of course the people who organized it did a great job too," she said.