Elders in Dialogue

As knowledge-keepers, memory-holders, and esteemed members of society, Elders hold a vital place in Indigenous communities. As First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples face societal and environmental challenges, dialogue among different communities is an important way to build networks, share experiences, problem-solve, and forge resilience. However, face-to-face dialogues, as crucial as they are, can be difficult to come by across the vast distances of the continent, and the globe. In this session, we plan to create an opportunity for meaningful exchange among Elders, with facilitation to record and share documentation if desired, followed by an open session with SoE conference attendees. The first hour would be a closed-door session for Elders to ask each other questions, possibly circulated ahead of time. The second hour would be an open door session where any conference attendee can ask a question of the Elders. Ideally, aspects of this session will be recorded if deemed appropriate – possibly including a graphic recording by an Indigenous graphic artist – so that Elders can leave the meeting with a meaningful gift and tangible reminders of the session’s conversations and connections.