The respected role of Elders
Elders occupy a highly respected role in American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian cultures. They step into this role because of family and community recognition, not based on age or self-definition. Revered for their wisdom, Elders are referred to as the community’s leaders, teachers, keepers of knowledge, and role models to all. Elders ensure the continuation of traditional native customs and pass those on to younger generations.
A group of grandmothers from the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota first conceived the forward-thinking policy changes incorporated into the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978. The core values and rights reflected in ICWA include active efforts that help children safely remain with (or return to) their families, and cultural humility in engagement with children’s communities. Casey Family Programs recognizes ICWA as representing the gold standard of child welfare practice for all children and families.
Elder Connections Project study
- Population: 30 American Indian/Alaska Native and 30 Native Hawaiian Elders, ages 50 to over 90; within the group, 57 were women and three were men.
- Data sources: 24-item survey within local focus groups; literature review
- Methodology:
- Eight focus groups were held with Elders from Spirit Lake Nation (6 elders), Osage Nation (6), Pascua Yaqui Tribe (7), Tanana Chiefs Conference (5), Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (6), as well as two Native Hawaiian communities in Hilo (17) and two in Honolulu (13).
- Communities identified their own participants. Each focus group met in its local community and answered 24 questions posed by Casey Family Programs.
- Consultant and project author: Jordan “Angun” Lewis, director of research for the Center for One Health Research, and research professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, College of Indigenous Studies.