Description Description of an of an ElderElder

A Mi’kmaq Studies A Mi’kmaq Studies 10 Culture Unit 10 Culture Unit

PresentationPresentation

Characteristics, Characteristics, Roles and Roles and

Responsibilities Responsibilities of an Elderof an Elder

An Elder is a person who is An Elder is a person who is respected, knowledgeable, respected, knowledgeable,

and serves as an advisor, but and serves as an advisor, but is not seen as judgemental.is not seen as judgemental.

Having survived many winters, the Elders Having survived many winters, the Elders learned, through observation and learned, through observation and

experience, to become wise and experience, to become wise and

knowledgeable. The Elders knowledgeable. The Elders knew the movements of the knew the movements of the

sun, moon, stars, eclipses, and sun, moon, stars, eclipses, and comets. They could forecast the comets. They could forecast the

weather based on cloud formations, winds, weather based on cloud formations, winds, colours of the sky, the bend of the leaves, colours of the sky, the bend of the leaves,

and the behaviour of the birds.and the behaviour of the birds.

Not all Elders are seniors, nor are all Not all Elders are seniors, nor are all old people Elders. Some Elders may, old people Elders. Some Elders may,

in fact, be quite young. in fact, be quite young. Elders are honoured because they have Elders are honoured because they have

gifts of insight and understanding, gifts of insight and understanding, and they are willing to share the and they are willing to share the knowledge that they possess. knowledge that they possess.

An Elder does not have to be of certain An Elder does not have to be of certain age, but is usually an older adult.age, but is usually an older adult.

An Elder is someone the Mi’kmaq An Elder is someone the Mi’kmaq society can learn from, but also a society can learn from, but also a person with wisdom, and who is person with wisdom, and who is

willing to share. willing to share.

It is believed that Elders are life It is believed that Elders are life teachers and the Mi’kmaq people teachers and the Mi’kmaq people believe they should be cared for. believe they should be cared for.

The Elders observed the behaviour of children The Elders observed the behaviour of children

and animals, the movement of fish, the growth and animals, the movement of fish, the growth patterns of plants and the migration of birds to patterns of plants and the migration of birds to

determine the right time to gather food and medicine. determine the right time to gather food and medicine.

It was through these types of observations, that they It was through these types of observations, that they gained great knowledge and insights. As a result, gained great knowledge and insights. As a result, common things, such as knowing when to prepare common things, such as knowing when to prepare appropriate clothing and shelter, and to make tools appropriate clothing and shelter, and to make tools and traps for travel, was utilized to full advantage.and traps for travel, was utilized to full advantage.

An Elder is an individual An Elder is an individual who presents challenges who presents challenges

to the community in a to the community in a positive way. positive way.

An Elder serves as a role An Elder serves as a role model in the home and in model in the home and in

the community.the community.

An Elder is someone a An Elder is someone a Mi’kmaq person would Mi’kmaq person would

admire and would like to admire and would like to be like as they mature.be like as they mature.

An Elder is a good listener and knows the An Elder is a good listener and knows the

traditions and lifestyle of their culture. traditions and lifestyle of their culture.

An Elder has the wisdom and the generosity An Elder has the wisdom and the generosity toward others and helps to develop toward others and helps to develop

insightful and considerate relationships insightful and considerate relationships

with anyone who is willing with anyone who is willing

to listen and to learn. to listen and to learn.

Elders are respected for their wisdom and Elders are respected for their wisdom and life experience and they play a critical life experience and they play a critical

role in Aboriginal communities role in Aboriginal communities nationwide, serving as advisors for new nationwide, serving as advisors for new

generations. generations.

An Elder points the young toward their An Elder points the young toward their culture and spiritual growth that help culture and spiritual growth that help

them to become aware of themselves.them to become aware of themselves.

An Elder is a good leader and can serve An Elder is a good leader and can serve as a counsellor. They have the as a counsellor. They have the

intuitiveness to understand and to intuitiveness to understand and to accept. accept.

The positive and supportive recognition The positive and supportive recognition and support for Elders is fundamentally and support for Elders is fundamentally

key to a healthy community.key to a healthy community.

An Elder should be a good storyteller. An Elder should be a good storyteller.

Elders’ stories often include teachings. The Elders’ stories often include teachings. The values embedded in the stories, and not values embedded in the stories, and not

necessarily the stories themselves, help to necessarily the stories themselves, help to educate aboriginal children and youths. educate aboriginal children and youths.

The Elder symbolizes an Aboriginal society’s The Elder symbolizes an Aboriginal society’s total culture, the oral tradition and are total culture, the oral tradition and are

keepers of the integrity of our community.keepers of the integrity of our community.

An Elder is kind-hearted, understanding, An Elder is kind-hearted, understanding, and has a good sense of humour. and has a good sense of humour.

Elders transmit their knowledge through Elders transmit their knowledge through their actions and through oral tradition their actions and through oral tradition

– stories, humour, ceremonies, – stories, humour, ceremonies, teachings and teachings and

other activities.other activities.

In many Aboriginal communities, it was the In many Aboriginal communities, it was the grandparents/elders who raised the grandparents/elders who raised the

children. children.

The parents were busy with daily chores of The parents were busy with daily chores of survival; it was the oldest in society who survival; it was the oldest in society who

taught children camp skills, such as taught children camp skills, such as gathering wood and getting water.gathering wood and getting water.

The grandparents/elders brought their own The grandparents/elders brought their own set of skills to raising the young. set of skills to raising the young.

This ranged from sharing a traditional legend, This ranged from sharing a traditional legend, to leading nature walk, or simply through to leading nature walk, or simply through

imparting their wisdom. imparting their wisdom.

Elders often repeat their stories and advice Elders often repeat their stories and advice so that the young will have ample time so that the young will have ample time

to learn from them.to learn from them.

Several times a year the Mi’kmaq Several times a year the Mi’kmaq and and

Maliseet gathered at strategic Maliseet gathered at strategic locations throughout the locations throughout the Maritime region. These Maritime region. These

gatherings served to rekindle gatherings served to rekindle family relationships and were an family relationships and were an occasion for Elders to share their occasion for Elders to share their

wisdom and knowledge. wisdom and knowledge.

The Elders advised the Mi’kmaq The Elders advised the Mi’kmaq

and Maliseet leaders. and Maliseet leaders.

The leaders and Elders relied on The leaders and Elders relied on the young people for their vision, the young people for their vision,

physical strength and spiritual physical strength and spiritual giftedness.giftedness.

The women brought new life to the group, The women brought new life to the group, and, as mothers, taught the children to and, as mothers, taught the children to care, share, and rely on each other for care, share, and rely on each other for

survival. survival.

The Elders always recognized and The Elders always recognized and respected the roles, responsibilities, respected the roles, responsibilities, talents and skills of all members of talents and skills of all members of

society, whether they are male, female, society, whether they are male, female, child, senior, or fellow Elder.child, senior, or fellow Elder.

The introduction of the residential school The introduction of the residential school

system in Canada, system in Canada, eliminatedeliminated or severely or severely reduced reduced

the role of Elders in the education of Mi’kmaq the role of Elders in the education of Mi’kmaq

children, starting in the 1930’s, when children, starting in the 1930’s, when

the Schubenacadie Residential School the Schubenacadie Residential School opened.opened.

Elders are seen as the custodians of Elders are seen as the custodians of Aboriginal people. Aboriginal people.

Elders bridge the ancient traditions and Elders bridge the ancient traditions and beliefs with the influences of today. beliefs with the influences of today.

Elders can try and ensure that Aboriginal Elders can try and ensure that Aboriginal traditions continue in a revitalized and traditions continue in a revitalized and

renewed form. renewed form.

Introduction:Introduction: Elders fulfill many roles. Elders fulfill many roles. They are teachers, historians, They are teachers, historians,

healers, judges, philosophers and healers, judges, philosophers and counselors. counselors. Elders are the primary Elders are the primary

source of all the knowledgesource of all the knowledge that has that has been accumulated by their been accumulated by their

communities for generations; communities for generations; they they are the keepers of spiritual are the keepers of spiritual

ceremonies and traditional lawsceremonies and traditional laws that that have sustained Aboriginals have sustained Aboriginals

through hundreds of years.through hundreds of years.

Curriculum Exercise # 5: Brainstorm on

Elders

Part A Task:Part A Task: Take the Take the next few minutes, next few minutes,

using the brainstorm using the brainstorm web provided, and web provided, and

identify six qualities, identify six qualities, abilities or abilities or

characteristics an characteristics an elder must possess to elder must possess to

be effective.be effective.

Idetify six qualities,

abilities or characteristics an elder

must possess.

Part B Task: Part B Task: Using the brainstorm Using the brainstorm results, now take the time and list results, now take the time and list each of the qualities, abilities or each of the qualities, abilities or characteristics you considered as characteristics you considered as previously important or significant, and previously important or significant, and then explain the following in several then explain the following in several short sentences: short sentences: They must possess They must possess this quality or characteristic for this this quality or characteristic for this reason…reason…

An example…An example…

(1.) List the quality and characteristic: Language Skill(1.) List the quality and characteristic: Language Skill

They must possess this quality, ability or They must possess this quality, ability or characteristic for this reason…For a culture to be characteristic for this reason…For a culture to be able to survive, it is important that the people in that able to survive, it is important that the people in that society be able to speak and communicate in their society be able to speak and communicate in their own language. Books and other ways of own language. Books and other ways of representing, can only sustain a culture for so long. representing, can only sustain a culture for so long. Unless “language” exists, that society’s culture will Unless “language” exists, that society’s culture will be forever harmed, as there will be some aspect of be forever harmed, as there will be some aspect of their culture that is incomplete, as fewer people can their culture that is incomplete, as fewer people can communicate in the language ancestors once used. communicate in the language ancestors once used.

What do Elders do What do Elders do today?today?

Elders connect people to the Elders connect people to the events, customs and events, customs and

ceremonies of the past. ceremonies of the past. Therefore they must have a Therefore they must have a

strong knowledge of strong knowledge of traditional Aboriginal ways. traditional Aboriginal ways.

Elders act as counsellors but they do not impose Elders act as counsellors but they do not impose their knowledge and wisdom. their knowledge and wisdom.

Typically, people must ask the Elder Typically, people must ask the Elder

for his or her insights. for his or her insights.

Elders listen patiently and non-judgmentally. Elders listen patiently and non-judgmentally.

They combine spiritual views, which may be They combine spiritual views, which may be focused around traditional or Christian beliefs, focused around traditional or Christian beliefs,

with their experience of life to provide with their experience of life to provide suggestions or make observations.suggestions or make observations.

Elders perform their roles both on reserves Elders perform their roles both on reserves and in urban settings. and in urban settings.

Most Aboriginal communities try to involve Most Aboriginal communities try to involve Elders in decision-making. Elders in decision-making.

The Assembly of First Nations, for example, The Assembly of First Nations, for example, has a Council of Elders that offers guidance has a Council of Elders that offers guidance to the National Chief and the First Nations-to the National Chief and the First Nations-

in-Assembly.in-Assembly.

Recently, Elders have also become Recently, Elders have also become important mediators (people who important mediators (people who

intervene in disputes to help arrive at intervene in disputes to help arrive at solutions) in criminal proceedings solutions) in criminal proceedings

involving Aboriginal people. involving Aboriginal people.

The Elders offer guidance about The Elders offer guidance about sentencing and suggestions about how to sentencing and suggestions about how to

reintegrate offenders back into their reintegrate offenders back into their communities.communities.

Elders also go into prisons to counsel Elders also go into prisons to counsel Aboriginal offenders and help them Aboriginal offenders and help them

reconnect to their heritage by performing reconnect to their heritage by performing rituals such as the sweat lodge.rituals such as the sweat lodge.

The sweat lodge ceremony is meant to The sweat lodge ceremony is meant to purify the mind purify the mind

and body, by reconnecting people and body, by reconnecting people with themselves, the world, each other, with themselves, the world, each other,

and all creation.and all creation.

The Role of The Role of Elders Elders

in Urban Centresin Urban Centres

Aboriginal people face many challenges Aboriginal people face many challenges when they move from their reserves or when they move from their reserves or traditional homelands to Canadian towns traditional homelands to Canadian towns and cities. and cities.

In particular, they face the challenge of In particular, they face the challenge of keeping their Aboriginal language, keeping their Aboriginal language, culture, and traditions. To help, many culture, and traditions. To help, many Aboriginal social organizations in cities Aboriginal social organizations in cities employ Elders. employ Elders.

What duties do Elders perform in urban

centres?

What qualities/characteristic

s make for a good Elder in urban centres?

       Counsel individuals and groups       Teach about Aboriginal ways

       Perform ceremonies       Provide knowledge of Aboriginal

healing       Advise organizations

       Help with conflict resolution       Act as a role model

       Provide a spiritual presence

 Live an Aboriginal lifestyle       Commit to helping the Aboriginal community

(possibly without pay)       Have experiences of life

       Have a thorough knowledge of traditions and ceremonies

       Commit to improving the quality of life in the Aboriginal community

       Be a good communicator, preferably with Aboriginal language skills’

       Have a proven ability to work with people, especially young people

       Understand the challenges Aboriginal people face in an urban setting

       Be patient and non-judgmental

Curriculum Exercise Curriculum Exercise # 6: # 6:

The Role of Elders The Role of Elders Today Today

and in Urban and in Urban CentresCentres

In several short sentences In several short sentences describe describe the roles of elders todaythe roles of elders today. . Then Then explain how their responsibilities explain how their responsibilities have changed.have changed.

In complete sentences, In complete sentences, describe the describe the role of elder in an urban settingrole of elder in an urban setting. Use . Use specific examples.specific examples.

The The

EndEnd