Bertha Demit of Northway watches the dancers at her celebration. As the ancient beat of the Athabaskan drum surrounded Bertha Demit and her guests, her face shone through the weathering of more than 100 winters. Frail in her wheelchair and unable to hear and see well, Bertha bobbed her head and waved her hands to the rhythm of the tribal songs. Kenny Thomas Sr., backed up by Jerry Issac on the drum, sang a new song, one for Polly, Bertha's late daughter.
People rush in from the sidelines and form one, two and then three circles of dancing.
It's just real enthusiastic. Will Mayo's mother, Agnes Moore. No one knows exactly how old she is, but preceding even the Klondike, she comes right behind the late Walter Northway in age. Some put Bertha's age at 110. After dinner, Enna Albert and Ellen Demit explained that Bertha was born near Scottie Creek to Annie John who lived to be 116.