Elder Capacity Camp & Cultural Celebration
Over the course of five days, nearly 30 distinguished Elders representing various nations, including Treaty 7 and beyond, gathered in the spirit of capacity building and cultural transference. Taking place August 23-27, 2021 in beautiful Kananaskis Country, this event was held in collaboration with the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA), Trellis, Miskanawah, and Mahegun Tails Inc. Guided by the Elders, this gathering was called with the intention to share and organize knowledge, honour inter-nation traditions, and to teach the younger generation of Elders.
“We’re at a critical time. We’re losing the Indigenous resources. Our Elders are passing on and leaving us with a shortage of human resources to help our young people. So, I think not only do we take the young people and work with them, but we need to teach our own young Elders to become full-fledge Elders and validate it so that they can continue supporting organization.”
Elders and knowledge keepers shared stories through oral teachings that have been passed down from generations. These stories honour culture while acknowledging and respecting the diversity in ceremony, language, and tradition across nations.
