by Betty Bardswich
M’CHIGEENG—The year 1921 saw the introduction of the Canadian five cent piece, the discovery of insulin by Toronto doctors Banning and Best and the Ottawa Senators win of the Stanley Cup. On Manitoulin Island, that year also saw the birth of Elizabeth Debassige, the only girl in a family with eight boys.
Friends and family members gathered at the Anishinaabemowin Gamig Elders Centre in M’Chigeeng with Ms. Debassige to celebrate as she marked her 95th birthday. Originally from Wikwemikong, Ms. Debassige married her husband Norman, now deceased, in 1968. She has 22 grandchildren and 33 great grand children.
Grace Fox opened the celebration and welcomed guests as she noted how great it was to get together and see each other. A testament to her youthfulness, she also mentioned that Ms. Debassige had been in the Elders Centre that week to bake bread.
Alma Jean Migwans said the opening prayer, which was a Prayer of Thanksgiving for Life. “In honour of our elder,” Ms. Migwans said, “we thank her for being with us and for sharing her wisdom all these years. The number one gift, the most precious gift she teaches us is about good thoughts, to have good thoughts.
Ms. Migwans also added, “Thanks for the meal, for the services and for the organizers for us to gather at this special event.”
After the delicious meal was served, it was time for presents with Ms. Fox giving Ms. Debassige a t-shirt that read ‘Kiss me, I’m 95.’ Lisa Ense had a special present for Ms. Debassige, a slideshow that began with a picture of Alex and Rosalie, the parents of Ms. Debassige. There were pictures of the homestead, then and now, of a very young Ms. Debassige and others as she grew older. A very special picture was of the couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
There was talk, also, of Ms. Debassige’s many hobbies over the years including sewing and quilting and living off the land by canning, making maple syrup and hunting for small animals. Ms. Debassige also worked for a time as a custodian at Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS). It was noted that Ms. Debassige still loves to dance, in particular ‘the brown sugar stomping dance.’ She also took a pottery class in 2010 and travels with the other elders on trips.
The celebration ended with many pictures taken and with everyone going home with a piece of birthday cake.
