By Shae Hadden
I attended the David Suzuki Foundation's first Elders for the Environment Forum
today in Vancouver, Canada. The event drew 200+ people, including Elder
representatives from several First Nations and concerned 'older'
citizens from Canada and the U.S. Following are some of the highlights
from an inspiring talk given by Miles Richardson, former Grand Chief of
the Haida Nation and a member of the board of directors of the David
Suzuki Foundation.
- "We are all in the same canoe, and we have to begin paddling together in the same direction."
- "An Elder is very importantly and universally recognized as a
knowledge-keeper. But we look to them for more than that. We depend on
them for wisdom, the distillation of that knowledge gained from
living and experieneces, and we depend on them to pass that on from
generation to generation.We look to them for guidance when we face the huge challenges that life puts in front of us. We look to them for validation when we are doing what we believe is right when others can't understand or cannot see what we see."
- "Being an Elder is not about age. You don't become an Elder because you've grown old. An Elder is someone whose integrity I trust and whose wisdom I respect. That must be earned and real."
- "Talk is good. Actions are stronger."
- Overheard at the 4th World Wilderness Congress: "Economic growth is an interpretation. The environment is a matter of survival."
- Wisdom from an Elder given to Miles when he was complaining about
the loss of his native culture: "Before you take another step forward, take a step back and listen."
Check back later this week for more highlights from the speakers at this event.
Written by eldering at News
Tagged with:
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 By Shae Hadden | Bio
I’ve
been looking for a way to be free all my life. My entire search has,
unfortunately, been focused on the practical aspect of ‘holding on’ to
whatever I thought would give me freedom: a belief in some system or
way of thinking, money, possessions, favorite books that contained
ideas that were ‘liberating’, any activity that loosened up my body and
mind, people I loved. But now almost nothing is certain in my life, and
a deep desire to let go of my attachments to everything and everyone
propels me forward.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Fearless Aging
Tagged with:
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By Shae Hadden | Bio
I was reading an article about ethical wills
recently that got me wondering about what kind of legacy I might leave
behind if I were to die tomorrow. This type of ‘leave behind’
document—like diaries, journals, books, letters and photo albums—are
usually loving prepared over the course of several years. Nowadays, we
also have innumerable opportunities to record our lives and thoughts
online to share with friends and family. So why bother going to the
trouble of preparing an ethical will in addition to a legal will?[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Tagged with:
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By Shae HaddenBio
How often do we take time to look a little closer at beautiful works of
art? To learn about the culture that shaped the images we see?
I recently had an opportunity to visit a unique gallery in my
community. Founded and run by a Canadian who is committed to bringing
Australian Aboriginal art created by women to North America, the Jan Townend Art Gallery
features paintings, textiles, weaving and basketry. The British art
critic John Ruskin once said, “All great art is the work of the whole
living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul.” The powerful
paintings I saw at the gallery amply conveyed the soul of the
Aboriginal people—its beauty, strength and hidden meaning. The
deceptively simple style is grounded in a complex ceremonial tradition.
Consider that these people have no written languages, so their art is a
visual record, a way to communicate their history and culture: the
images help them tell their creation stories, their ‘dreamtime’, their
explanation of the world they live in. Pausing to view the creative
work of these women made me realize how my hectic, technology-driven
life has left me disconcertingly out of touch with my own soul. And in
speaking with Jan, I gained a greater understanding of what this art
means to the artists and their communities.[ Read More]
Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Tagged with:
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