WISDOM OF THE ELDERS

DEFINITION OF ELDERS

Age Criteria
Generally in First Nations Elders are defined as older people. To be recognized as an Elder, the age criterion ranges from fifty to seventy years of age. It is thought that before the age of fifty people tend to be too busy and may not be able to think at the level required of an Elder.

First Nations Words for Older People

Description of an Elder
An Elder is an individual known in the First Nation as a person who will respond in crises and give whatever help is needed. An Elder is someone who has vision for the people and who is willing to share that vision and work toward achieving it. They are expected to be caring, loving and non argumentative. An Elder is someone who has lived the particular way of life or life-way respected in their First Nation territory. Elders stress the need to respect each other at meetings and when interacting with other nations. They also stress the need to always honour and practice the native way of life.

An Elder is the necessity in the family system to set an example for the people to follow to ensure the family's survival and thus the nation's survival. The Elders contribute a sense of harmony and well being to their First Nation since families are the basic part of the nation.

It is a common belief that if Elders are to be sought as advisors about life they need to follow the "seven teachings" or "walk their talk" which indicates a strong spiritual and balanced life.

In the past, Elders held the knowledge, history, ceremonies, songs, dances and cultural background for the nation. They passed this knowledge down from generation to generation. Elders were knowledgeable about Mother Earth. They knew the medicines and the culture. The elderly always deserve respect; therefore, one must always respect anyone who is older.

Protocol
Elders want to be able to share their wisdom in their own languages. They also expect respect for their beliefs from people at every gathering. Protocol in such gatherings is very important considering the diversity of belief systems in First Nations. Elders who follow the ways of First Nations generally expect tobacco to be offered for information or any other request that requires spiritual guidance. It is believed that tobacco is a sacred gift to be used sparingly and for spiritual guidance or healing. Gifts, special meals, cups of tea and/or honoraria are also used to indicate how much the service of the Elder is valued and respected.

It takes a whole community to raise a child. The extended family structure and the strong support that was provided is a tradition of great importance in all First Nations. The Elders cared for the whole family; therefore, they cared for the whole nation.
 
 

ROLES OF ELDERS

Elders as Advisors in Organizational Development and Decolonization
Elders can play a role in the process of decolonization or beginning to integrate First Nations knowledge  into the organizational models, governance models, policies and procedures of First Nations organizations rather than continuing to practice what has been forced upon them in recent times. One typical procedure for community meetings involves using the circle and the drum. People sit in a circle with Elders in the north, Women in the south, youth in the east and men in the west. The drum sits in the centre of the circle. When someone wants to speak they approach the drum and sound it once. The person who sounds the drum then speaks. In his type of gathering First Nations are free to be themselves and everyone comes away with a better understanding of the issues.

Elders as Keepers of the Ways of Life of the Nations
Elders wish to be a part of the process of integrating First Nations knowledge into the school curriculum. Students are often prepared beforehand so they can sit and listen respectfully. In some schools the Elders have a log house or a place to sit and the students come to them. Here the old ways of life are demonstrated and practiced. Since Elders have a knowledge of the native languages they can often relate history more precisely.

Elders as Curriculum Planners
The Elders want to be part of the First Nations curriculum planning and development process. One method of doing this is to employ academically trained teachers as curriculum writers and subject area content experts while using the Elders and First Nations people as additional sources of knowledge and validators of the native perspective.

Elders are responsible for verbalizing and modeling the way things should be done. Although this is not a written rule, all understand it. Elders are role models for the way people should be living their lives. By modeling correct behaviours, Elders set the First Nation's standards of behaviour.