August 09, 2010 –
MAYETTA: A birthday celebration was held at the Firekeepers Elder Center this afternoon for tribal elder Julia “A-wah-guh-win” Kabance who turned 100 years old today.
Tribal Council, and approximately fifty others, including members of her family, was on hand for the celebration. She was given a Pendleton blanket with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation seal embossed on it along with several other gifts. An arrangement of flowers came from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.
Kabance was born August 10, 1910 on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Common Land to Frank and Mary Kabance. One of twelve children she attended Kewanka grade school, high school in Holton, Kan. and Haskell University (now Haskell Indian Nations University) in Lawrence, Kan.
She is a veteran of World War II having served in the Women’s Army Corps where she was stationed at McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Wash. She is also a member of the We-Ta-Se American Legion Post # 410 that is located on the Prairie Band Potawatomi Common Land.
She has been a resident of St. Mary’s, Kansas since 1979 and is active in the Catholic Church. She has also been an active volunteer for the Topeka VA Hospital through the years.
This was the second celebration for Kabance this week who was also feted with a party given in her honor by her family last Saturday at the PBPN Community/Rock building.
Julia Kabance, far left, receiving a Pendleton blanket from Tribal Council.
Julia also received other cards and gifts. With her, sitting, left, is Sarah Patterson, and, right, is Pat Keesis. Standing with the microphone is LaVerne Hale.