Elders

Vision

• Providing mentorship and role models
• Practicing and implementing the 7 Grandfather Teachings within the workplace and out in the community

Purpose

• Keeping the community and circle strong
• Supporting community members
• Sharing traditional values and knowledge
• Supporting all aspects of holistic well-being
• Offer guidance and teachings
• Maintain the goal of keeping children and families together and connected.

Elder Program Roles and Responsibilities

• Providing direct and indirect cultural services.
• Knowledge keepers to develop and deliver locally accepted practices in consultation with the families.
• Providing an education within cultural sensitivity
• Input in planning in consultations with our families.
• Providing historical competencies for community building
• Carrying knowledge of the child, youth, and family services act.
• Provide vision, leadership, and guidance to the community members
• Act as mediators in the case of conflict over cultural protocols with the understanding that protocols are based on the practices within the Anishinaabek of this territory

Elder Term of Reference

• The Elders are to act as an advisory council whether it be through personal family supports or professional settings within child welfare agencies.
• Establish protocols for culturally appropriate behaviour. Example: when requesting the assistance or guidance of an Elder, they must be presenting with a gift such as tobacco.
• Conduct certain cultural ceremonies
• Arrange weekly meetings to create agendas on Elder utilization within community or agency
• Governance of the Elder committee are as follows: Community representatives to oversee the Elders, created a frequency of meetings (weekly), minute taking, decision making procedures, open forums, honorarium, and reminding all of the conduct of confidentiality.

Elders in action

• Elders often plan monthly events to give back to the community. Example: Elder Socials, inviting community elders to a dinner and bingo, life lessons, community kitchen/baking, drumming, medicine teachings, renal kitchen, Bannock making, LGBTQ2S groups. This ensure the Elders are working to carry on traditions
• Elders to work as an advisory committee to ensure community members are being cared for
• Maintaining the goal of keeping children out of care and keeping them connected to their families.
• Elders to provide personal support to families by request. Example: assisting families who are grieving a loved one who passed on, providing home cooked comfort meals, assisting the late members to guide their journey into the spirit world.

Sitting in on internal and external meetings with outer agencies. Example: Elders sit in on Dilico Mikinaak Case Reviews. They give their inputs and suggestions on how to assist with the family healing journey