Elders Council Inauguration

What if getting older was something we looked forward to? If we brought dignity back to ageing and uplifted the wisdom that living a full life naturally provides? What if our communities had people we looked to as Elders when we had big questions or needed support?

None of us are perfect examples of the wise sage that sits at the edge of the woods and can solve all your problems with a wave of a hand, but why not start somewhere? Why not take a page from Gandhi's book and do our best to "be the change we want to see?"

With this longing and inspiration we recently had about 100 folks from the Thriving Roots community come together at Goldstream to celebrate 4 older adults who have been holding deep questions for years about how to uphold Elderhood in a modern age. With guidance and encouragement from the Chief of the local Tsawout Nation, we wrapped blankets around these four individuals and honoured them each with a unique wooden staff to lean on. Each staff came from a different type of tree and was honorably harvested with the goal to create a bridge between the Tree Elders of the Forest with the Human Elders of our Community.

Our youth were a big part of the ceremony, presenting the staffs to the Elders and asking them meaningful questions about their commitment to this new role. It was beautiful to witness youth looking up to these newly appointed Elders with a glint of awe and inspiration in their eyes. Youth and adults alike couldn't help but wonder "will I get to be acknowledged as an Elder one day?" "How can I more consciously live my life today so that I may be worthy of that role in the future?"