The Path of Life teaches that the elders must be honored and respected for they are the recipients of the gift of long life from the Creator. Within First Nations societies, Elders are viewed as the keepers of the cultural knowledge, it is their responsibility to pass this knowledge on through the oral tradition to the young people. Thus Elders serve many capacities within First Nations communities as educators, family matri/patriarchs, childcare givers, political, cultural and spiritual advisors, and are often viewed as the community conscience in many of their home communities.
In return, Elders are given respect, not only within the family, but also within the larger community as a whole. Elders often serve as valuable members on committees and are consulted during the decision-making processes in many First Nations communities. It is through this community service that many Elders are able to remain active and involved in their community well beyond the age that many elderly persons do within the larger society. Elders within First Nations societies are viewed as a valuable resource, as they are the links between the past and present, and their knowledge helps to provide the cultural continuity which allows First Nations to survive. In traditional families young people are encouraged to visit and spend time with the Elders, not only within their home communities, but in other communities as well.
Respect for Elders within these communities are shown in a number of ways. There is a code of conduct that is observed by members of these communities that serve as guidelines for dealing with the Elderly. First and foremost, younger people are expected to listen to the Elders, even if they do not agree with the opinions of the Elders, they cannot interrupt an Elder when they are speaking. Young people are expected to look after the needs of the Elders, for example during any feasts, the Elders are first to be seated and served by younger people. Steps will be taken to ensure that the comfort and needs of the Elders are met. Another example of this is the provision of hearing devices and in some cases interpreters during large gatherings, such as band meetings to guarantee that the Elders not only hear but understand the proceedings.
In addition, many First Nations have programs in place to assist the Elderly to remain in their homes. Home care providers will come into the home to do the heavy house and yard work for the Elders free of charge, as well other services such as the provision of wood, water and garbage pick-up, will be provided free of charge. Community Heath Workers will provide transportation, and additional assistance to Elders within the community.
This role within the larger community is simply an extension of the role that the Elders play within the family. Within the family, the Elders are the matri/patriarchs and often serve as childcare givers. This close contact between the generations serves as guarantee that the values, tradition and family history is passed on to the next generation. In cases where the Elderly are infirm, there is often a reluctance for the family to place the individual into an institution such as a hospital or elder care homes. These institutions are often only used as a last resort if the needs of the infirm cannot be met within the family.
In most First Nations communities there are Elders who are viewed primarily as wisdom keepers. These are the ones who are not only knowledgable about the ceremonies and culture of the people. These Elders are often referred to as medicine men, shaman, or medicine women. It must be pointed out that because of their status in the First Nation community there are special protocals that must be followed in order to show the proper respect. Tobacco, sage, or sweetgrass are given as gifts when asking for help or knowledge from these individuals. As well, additional gifts including cloth may also be given depending on the help that the individual is seeking.
According to the Royal Commision on Aboriginal People it must be remembered that: "Not all old people are Elders and not all Elders are old" (RCAP: 1995). For many First Nations people, what this means is that there is no age limit for an Elder. Like many aspects of First Nation society, individual skills and knowledge define the role. For many, what matters is the knowledge that the individual possesses whether it be life experience or traditional knowledge, but the deciding factor is how the community views the individual. While all old people are treated with respect, not all are viewed in the same light as an Elder.
