Lesson 3 — Activity 3: The Importance of Elders and Spirituality
Completion requirements
Lesson 3 — Activity 3: The Importance of
Elders
and Spirituality
Warm Up
Elders in Indigenous communities have always been greatly respected by community members. As well, much of the lives of Indigenous peoples was centered on spirituality.
In this activity, you will learn both about the importance of elders and the importance of spirituality to Indigenous peoples' societies.
An elder is a male or
female adult who has earned a reputation for wisdom and spiritual
knowledge. Not all elders were seniors or old people. Some elders were,
in fact, quite young. Elders were honoured because they had gifts of
insight and understanding, and they were willing to share the knowledge
they possessed.
Elders fulfilled many roles. The Elders were responsible for passing laws and traditions to younger members. They were teachers, philosophers, historians, healers, judges, and counsellors.
Elders are still very important to Indigenous people today. They continue to be the primary source of the knowledge that was accumulated by their communities, generation after generation. They are the keepers of spiritual ceremonies and traditional laws that have sustained Indigenous peoples through thousands of years.
Elders transmit their knowledge through their actions and through oral tradition with stories, humour, ceremonies, teachings, and other activities. Elders are respected for their wisdom and life experiences, and they play essential roles as advisors for new generations in Indigenous communities.
What Others have Said...
In L3 — A1, you listened to Chief Seattle speaking about how Indigenous peoples viewed themselves as part of nature. Below is a quote from him regarding the spirituality of Indigenous peoples.
"All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We did not weave the web of life. We are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves."
Indigenous peoples believe that earth, its atmosphere, and its waters belong to all
people. Many Indigenous peoples believe that they come from the womb
of the earth itself. For example, when the Sioux refer to "all their
relations," they refer to all living things, be they animal or plant. Further, all things, animate and inanimate, possess spiritual
significance.
They also believe in a holistic perspective of the world. This means that they are interested in engaging and developing the whole
person. You can think of this as different levels: physical, emotional,
mental, and spiritual. They look for connections to the land and community and believe that all living things are interconnected.
The image for this concept is a circle, in which all living things are equal.
The circle also symbolizes inclusion and equality. In traditional First Nations meetings or gatherings, everyone sits in a circle in accordance with the belief that all people are equal.
The circle is an important symbol, because the First Nations’ belief system holds that everything is circular.
Life is circular — a person is born, grows into childhood, matures, and becomes old, at which point thoughts and actions become childlike again.
The seasons are cyclical. Earth moves in a circle. Everything moves in a circle, from the rising sun to the setting sun, from the east and back to the east.
First Nations people and Inuit who follow traditional ways believe in a higher power called the Great Spirit, or the Creator. Spirituality is a part of being alive and a part of everyday life. This world view presents human beings as inhabiting a universe made by the Creator and striving to live in a respectful relationship with nature, one another, and oneself.
Everything in the universe possesses a kind of power or energy; this power is capable of transferring to birds, animals, and humans. For example, animals that become prey are part of a natural cycle whereby they offer themselves to become sustenance for the people. In return, the people honour the animals' spirits by offering prayers.
Digging Deeper!
Among the First Nations groups in Canada, the four sacred plants — tobacco, sage, sweet
grass, and cedar — are used in sacred ceremonies to help participants enter them with a good heart. These herbs are usually burned, and people carry out ritual actions using the smoke to cleanse their bodies and spirits.
In the sweetgrass ceremony, also called a smudge, sweetgrass is used to symbolically cleanse the body and important objects. During pipe ceremonies where tobacco is offered, the smoke represents one’s visible thoughts; tobacco travels ahead of the words so that honesty will be received in a kind and respectful way.
