Intergenerational Connection
Elderhood at Thriving Roots
All over the world, for years beyond counting, diverse peoples have understood that healthy connection among generations is essential to the integrity and strength of the community as a whole.
An Elders Council first came together in the spring of 2021 because of our interest in what Elderhood could be in this community at Thriving Roots. We told stories of a society where Elderhood is neither understood or respected, and offered our understandings of the qualities that we aspire to develop in ourselves. Since that time we have been exploring what Elderhood could mean at Thriving Roots.
We have studied many of the foundational models and methods of the 8 Shields movement. These provide us with guidance in our role as Elders for this community. As individuals, we have engaged with various Thriving Roots Wilderness School youth programs, offering our experience and sharing in the journeys of participants.
We work toward something that is out of sight of our own time, understanding that we must do this work with other people, younger and older, so we overlap, so there is depth, so we and they don’t forget.
In our personal lives, our meetings, and our interactions with the community we do our best to embody the principles of the Elders who have carried and passed on the lineage we hold. In particular, we view the 8 Shields Peace Principles as foundational to healthy interactions among people:
The Peace Principle: I come from a peaceful place. I hold the peace. I do not bring unresolved grief.
The Good Message: When I speak to another human being, I use my finest words. I first honour the other person; then give my message.
The Unity Principle: We offer our good messages to one another, back and forth, until we agree on what is to be done.
You can find a detailed history and honouring of the lineage of the Peace Principles here.
We honour and respect the teachings of the WSANEC people who lived on the unceded Coast Salish Territory that the Thriving Roots community knows as Cedar Song Centre for Wild Belonging, and we invite their teachings into the Elderhood space we hold.
Elders Fire
Thriving Roots Elders Fire is a time when Elders of the Thriving Roots community hold space for all generations to come together at the fire, to co-create the healthy connections that so many long for. We do this because we understand from our lineage in the 8 Shields model and other teachings that respectful interaction and communication across generations is essential to the strength and integrity of the community.
In these meetings there are opportunities to bring questions to the Elders, questions offered by the Elders to participants, and stories to be told and heard. There are serious moments, and there is celebration and laughter.
The Elders Fire is generally offered on the Friday evening before a Wild + Alive weekend at Cedar Song. Learn more and see upcoming dates here.
All are welcome.
