On this Day in Our History: Sarcee matriarch dies at 103

Friday, October 12th, 2018 3:15pm

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Summary

Oct. 10, 1987

Elizabeth Megginis, matriarch of the Sarcee nation (Tsuut'ina) and oldest resident of the reserve located west of Calgary, died Oct. 10, 1987 at the age of 103.

Meginnis was remembered by the Sarcee community for her warmth and understanding.

"We could have a house of 20 people," recalled her grandson Bruce Starlight. "And she would always make room for more."

Meginnis was the last sibbling of David Crowchild, the great Sarcee leader after whom Calgary's Crowchild Trail is named. The Calgary Aboriginal Urban Affairs committee had also named a yearly award after the Great Chief who advocated peace and understanding between all peoples.

Meginnis' grandfather was Chief Big Plume who signed Treaty 7 as representative of the Sarcee nation.

Meginnis was born Nov. 14, 1883 and spent her whole life on the reserve.

Visit our Archives site AMMSA.com for more on this story: http://ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/sarcee-elder-meginnis-dies-103