Yurok elder Ada Charles celebrates 100th birthday
Ada Charles, a member of the Yurok Tribe of California, celebrates her 100th birthday today.

Charles has dedicated her life to preserving tribal traditions. She helped revive the annual Yurok Jump Dance, which she still attends, and was active in basket weaving until a few months ago. She also continued canning fish well into her 80s, her daughter said.

"She's got it all in her head,” Fern Bates said of her mother's basket weaving knowledge.

Charles' family is throwing her a party today at the tribal office.

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Yurok elder celebrates 100th birthday (The Eureka Times-Standard 12/17)