Wisdom of the Elders

Throughout indigenous communities, Elders are accorded a central role as the primary source of cultural knowledge. It should be understood that the identification of "Elders" as culture-bearers is not simply a matter of chronological age, but a function of the respect accorded to individuals in each community who exemplify the values and lifeways of the local culture and who possess the wisdom and willingness to pass their knowledge on to future generations. Respected Elders serve as the philosophers, professors and visionaries of a cultural community. As one of the primary sources of traditional cultural knowledge, Native Elders bear the responsibility to share and pass on that knowledge in ways that are compatible with traditional teachings and practices. One of the greatest strengths of indigenous communities is the reliance placed on the wisdom of Native Elders. Elders continually remind us that we cannot separate the understanding of natural phenomena from the deeper knowledge that we are all spiritually connected to the earth and earth's creatures. The native worldview defines health as a balance of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of an individual or group being. Elders provide advice in the area of health, medicine and other lifeways. Many elders teach from the medicine wheel or use sacred objects from Mother Earth to convey traditional cultures. Many use Traditional Medicine as complementary to modern Western Medicine. Public health programs are increasingly utilizing the teachings of Elders to improve the health native populations.