Thinking About Elders

With Nin No komiss in the nursing home for 3 plus years now and watching the dedication of Nin Mish0-miss. I have been thinking, in how elders were and the current role. This ties into with watching the video, because for it starts with an Elder.

My question in the Hadley reading is to comment on difference between approach & Strategy.

When looking at approach, helping future Language learners focus there are "flexible" rules or guidelines, we are all relearners and recognizing that our kids our modern kids. Language evolves, and it is through children that we can make new words. We don't know the language of children. But we do know the language rules, standards, and old philosophies. We have to be flexible, but strict in teaching those things so that the children can be inventive in the traditonal manner.

Strategy, is looking at the beginning of what works in the revitalizations efforts. Take a curriculum with let's say 80 chapters (life years). We all started at chapter one. Some are on diferent chapters depending on their skill level of language. But we are stuck, again depending on skill level, because we have first, second, & third person pronoun forms.

If we look at the trauma & evolution of elders we can get both approach & helpful hints on strategies.

What is an Elder within Tribal communities?
•Historical view
•Roles of a Elder
•The value of respect for wisdom and age
•Changes in the status of and role of elders
•Confusion of being an elder
•Types of abuse
•Future roles of elders
•The movement from extended to nuclear

Historical view
•Elders were considered the repositories of cultural, spiritual and historical knowledge
•Leadership and being an elder were very compatible with respect to characteristics
•People were groomed to become leaders and ultimately an elder
•Elders were expected to be teachers
•Change comes during Boarding school era

Roles of an Elder

•To be a teacher
•To be grandparents to many children
•To acquire wisdom
•To begin the process of training for “young elders”
•Patience and the ability to listen
•Practice the values of humility and respect
•Settling disputes and talking for the group

The value of respect for wisdom of Elders
•Children were taught very early to respect all people older them selves.
•The older one gets, the more respect is given
•That respect is a two way road. Respect is earned throughout ones life
•Elders are always in the process of learning about their environment

Changes in the status of Elders
•Change in the family system from a group or collective orientation to an individual perspective. Movement from the extended to the nuclear family
•Boarding schools and assimilation
•Religious schools and assimilation
•“Pepsi generation” – a major focus on youth and doing your own thing; Baby boom generation.

Confusion of being an Elder
•Many don’t know what it means to be an elder – not their fault
•Never were taught what it means to be an elder; were removed from learning environment
•Are expected to know something or be able to teach and speak about cultural life
•Are ashamed of not knowing
•Expect respect from younger community members, but don’t give back
•Are caring a lot of emotional baggage from previous generations. A lot of anger

Types of Elder abuse
•Physical abuse – locking them up; isolation
•Emotional abuse – threats to have them moved
•Spiritual abuse – don’t take them ceremonies
•Economic abuse – controlling money
•Double victimization – were victims when they were young by not having elders around to teach them, who are then unable to teach their children about elders and become high risk for abuse by their own family members
•Tied to other family violence dynamics that are similar to the domestic wheel of abuse

Future role of elders
•Reestablishment of cultural values of respect
•Language &Family workshops
•Elders teaching elders the role of being an elder and becoming teachers once again

Movement from Extended family to a nuclear family

•Elders were removed from their place within the family structure
•Most elders stayed at home until they walked on the spiritual world; they stayed with family members
•Nuclear focus on nursing homes
•Breakdown of cultural roles for elders
•Elders gave up; no one wanted to take time to learn

Changes occurring
•Are living longer
•Have medical problems
•Families are using more and more nursing homes to care for elderly
•Tribes very in the way they are able to care for elderly. Tribes with more resources provide housing
•Being an elder is different for each tribe; some at age 50, 55, or 60
•Number of children per family is decreasing

Ahaw
ChiAbay

Elder Video Update

Boozhoo,

I switched up the thinking in watching the elder video. The microphone on my laptop is not sending through a clear recording. As long as I am saying what is on the video and can hear it, is were I am with that. I have been working on the speech with my partner Melissa and she is wanting to get it down for the most part.

In this Language Journey, I keep in mind teachings from my dad Dr. Alton Sonny Smart about his journey.

Living in Balance within the environment around you!
Being in sync with others, learning how to communicate anishianbe style. To be able to communicate with your heart, then your mouth, then without words through the mind.

Certain sounds can create a sense of being in sync and thereby bring on a feeling of healing and health - Minobiimadiziwin

Knowing your self Indian style

In balance, not to be “Akozi” one can be akozi in all 4 areas of life

To flow with the world energy; there is a natural energy of sound, it is to allow the natural healing power of this energy that comes from the earth. It is one of the healing powers of this earth.

When the mind is ready a teacher or a teaching will appear. The creator god has put down many teachers and teachings on the road of life that was given to us at birth. It is up to us to prepare our selves to use and see life.

Where do we start?
As in our stories about our great uncle, Winnaboozhoo, there is no beginning or ending, we just start where we left off.

No word for “good bye” We instead use “giigaawaabamin minnawa ingoding” I will see you again sometime. And in a sense no time will have passed, we will just continue where we left off.

Just as in the circle’s of life and learning there is no beginning, we can start anywhere in the circle or age, the important thing is to start.

As great as Winnaboozhoo is, he still makes mistakes, just as we can and do make mistakes, he can be vain.

Stories is a way to the learn the language
Why “Anim” or Animosh does what he does
The waabose and life

The Dot of knowledge " A-pay-gish Ki-ken-daa-so-win Minigo-min"
Always in the process of gaining and seeking knowledge
How we really know

Hang in There
Story of Pipe Mustache telling lodge members why they came to the lodge to learn about the secret of life through the Medicine lodge or Mide lodgeThe simplest teaching of life are right in front of us in our environment.

Mi-jishi-nam Mush-ka-wis-si-win

Ahaw

ChiAbay

Movie Update 3/7/09

Boozhoo

Aaniin gwayak ekidong Ojibwemong?

I am struggling with my laptop to record my voice in ask the elder sentence/word.
I feel I am pronouncing the words for the most correctly. For me when pronouncing Ojibwe, it is important to recognize the spirits & ask for forgiveness if I am not pronouncing correctly. It can be just a simple acknowledgement out loud or closing my eyes and saying a small prayer. Our Ojibwe language is so special, that we want to make sure that we are humble in our mistakes.

Ahaw

ChiAbay

Rebirth of the Eagle

Boozhoo Brian,


I have a white eagle feather!


let me know if still interested!



ChiAbay