Jane Stelkia may be small in stature, but she stands tall as an iconic figure within the Osoyoos Indian Band and First Nations culture across the Okanagan Valley.
The oldest living member of the OIB celebrated her 95th birthday on Friday, with a couple hundred OIB members and off-reserve friends gathering to offer best wishes and celebrate her remarkable life.
As she has done for nearly three decades, Stelkia invited the community to join her annual birthday horseback ride. This yearsa国际传媒 celebration took place at Indian Grove Riding Stables in Osoyoos.
More than two dozen riders saddled up and accompanied Stelkia and her family on a short ride to Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos. Among them were longtime OIB Chief Clarence Louie and several members of his family.
After the hour-long ride, the group gathered in a hall at the NK鈥橫ip Campgrounds to enjoy Stelkiasa国际传媒 favourite meal: roast beef and mashed potatoes.
Stelkia, a petite woman standing well under five feet tall, beamed with pride after the ride, warmly embracing dozens of family and friends while waiting for dinner to be served.
鈥淚 feel good 鈥 really, really good,鈥 said Stelkia, who first rode a horse as a little girl growing up on the OIB in Oliver more than 80 years ago.
鈥淚鈥檝e been riding horses all my life, so I really look forward to my birthday 鈥 getting back on my horse Gunner and having so many people join me. I鈥檓 always happiest when I鈥檓 on a horse, so this is great.鈥
Before the ride, her family presented her with several Wampum beads made by her grandmother over a century ago. Wampum beads are traditionally crafted from the white and purple parts of clam shells, rounded, sanded, and drilled to make jewelry. They hold deep spiritual meaning and represent a way of understanding life beyond their historical use as currency, Stelkia explained.
鈥淎ll of these beads were made by my grandmother, and itsa国际传媒 an honour to have worn them today on my birthday,鈥 she said. 鈥淲ampum was used as trade, in exchange for money, back in the 1800s and 1900s in our culture. My family wanted me to wear them today, and it meant a lot.鈥
鈥淪telkiasa国际传媒 grandmother lived to be 106, and she hopes to follow in her footsteps, celebrating many more birthdays in the saddle.
A lifelong rancher, Stelkia said the birthday ride was her idea, born from her love of horses and her desire to share it with her family and community.
鈥淚 was in my mid-60s when this first started,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 happiest on a horse, so why not celebrate my birthday doing what I love most?鈥
Riding has always been a significant part of her culture 鈥 and still is, she said.
鈥淯s Indians 鈥 we start riding horses almost from the time we鈥檙e babies,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even remember how old I was when I got on a horse the first time 鈥 I was just a really little girl, and I鈥檝e been riding ever since.鈥
With deep pride in her culture, Stelkia gave a short speech to the crowd gathered to cheer her on as she mounted Gunner.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been riding horses on this land for thousands and thousands of years,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e are Indians 鈥 not First Nations, Indigenous, or Aboriginal. We鈥檙e Indians. Thatsa国际传媒 who we are. This is Godsa国际传媒 country, Indian country, and horse country.鈥
Aaron Stelkia, Janesa国际传媒 eldest son, said he was proud and grateful to see so many people join his mothersa国际传媒 birthday celebration.
鈥淚tsa国际传媒 awesome to see her at age 95, still jumping on a horse, still riding,鈥 he said. 鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 ride as much as she used to, but she still gets on a horse at least a couple times a year, including on her birthday. We had a horse sale on the reserve last year, and she saddled up.鈥
Having his sisters Dora and Marie, along with most of the familysa国际传媒 10 grandchildren present made the day even more special.
鈥淚tsa国际传媒 always a great day when we all get together to celebrate Momsa国际传媒 birthday,鈥 he said.
Bonnie Stelkia, Janesa国际传媒 granddaughter, said her grandmother is cherished by the entire OIB community and deeply deserves the recognition.
鈥淚鈥檓 really inspired by her, and I hope I鈥檓 in as good shape when I鈥檓 older. I鈥檓 just in awe,鈥 Bonnie said.
Not only is she still riding, but shesa国际传媒 also out mending fences at her age. Shesa国际传媒 got her walker, and shesa国际传媒 not as young as she once was, but shesa国际传媒 still active every day. She does work that a lot of people my age wouldn鈥檛 want to do. Shesa国际传媒 awesome.鈥
The eveningsa国际传媒 festivities included short films celebrating Stelkiasa国际传媒 extraordinary life 鈥 something Bonnie said her grandmother was really looking forward to.
鈥淢y dad is partnered in a company called Little Pine Productions, and they鈥檝e put together a few documentaries over the years,鈥 she said. 鈥淭heresa国际传媒 a lot of pictures and memories on film 鈥 itsa国际传媒 going to be so special to look back at her younger years.鈥
Having her own daughter there to witness the event was meaningful.
鈥淚 told her itsa国际传媒 not every day someone turns 95. And even rarer that they鈥檙e still so active and riding horses. Itsa国际传媒 a big deal, and I鈥檓 so glad she was able to be part of it.鈥
鈥淛ane is our oldest living member, elder, language speaker, and rancher,鈥 said Chief Clarence Louie. Back in her early days, most of the Okanagan was about ranching 鈥 cowboys and Indians. Shesa国际传媒 lived through so much and always shares her wisdom. We鈥檙e lucky to still have her with us.鈥
Stelkia has told Louie that staying active is key to her longevity.
鈥淗ard work is what she and I always talk about,鈥 he said. 鈥淚tsa国际传媒 the life she grew up with 鈥 no running water, no electricity. You went to bed early, got up early. No modern conveniences. You had to work hard and play hard. She could still outwork a lot of people half her age.鈥
Being her friend is something Louie cherishes deeply.
鈥淛ane is my friend, and shesa国际传媒 a treasure,鈥 he said. 鈥淪hesa国际传媒 95 today and still so productive 鈥 itsa国际传媒 just awesome to see.鈥
