(Jaryn Vecchio/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Indigenous Knowledge

Elders Council being created in P.A.

Sep 28, 2021 | 5:14 PM

An Elders Council is being formed in Prince Albert.

Conrad Burns, a local Indigenous resident and teacher on the ‘Way to Work’ project with the non-profit SHARE, came up with the idea a few years ago to help keep Indigenous culture and history alive and well in the community.

To this day, he continues to look back at advice he was given by Elders, and he wants to make it easier for others to experience that.

One message Burns has taken to heart is the lack of tradition and culture in an Indigenous person’s life will leave a hole.

“In that absence, they are drawn to whatever is given to them… alcohol, drugs, addictions.”

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Burns has spoken with nine Elders who’ve shared an interest in taking part in the council.

The hope is to have as many Elders as possible take part with there being no plans to limit seats and bring in elections.

No matter how many decide to volunteer their time, Burns believes the council will be a wealth of knowledge for the community.

“They become a resource for city council or non-profits or individuals looking to create something along the traditional lines.”

In his mind, an example would be preparations for the Day for Truth and Reconciliation in P.A. as any questions could be answered by the council.

Burns has also reached out to different post-secondary schools, including the First Nations University of Canada (FNUNIV), to try and get some youth involved in the process.

Krysta Hatfield, president of the FNUNIV’s northern campus student association in P.A., instantly fell in love with the idea.

She believes there are a lot of benefits this council can have on the community.

“There’s just a lack of understanding and I find Elders have a really great way of bridging that gap.”

Hatfield personally wants to see P.A.’s city council take part in the council, whether through funding or using them as the community’s Indigenous experts.

As for Burns, he believes there’s an opportunity down the road, but right now he wants to see the council have their first meeting and see what they’re comfortable with.

The hope is to have their first meeting in late October, early November.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow