Elder Story Project – What to Expect

Oki, Dadanast’ada, Âba Wathtech, Tanisi, Taanishi, Wotziye, Atelihai. These are the various ways to say hello and welcome in the traditional languages of the original peoples of this land. 

We thank you for joining us to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day and participate in the second annual Elders Story Project event. We hope the following information will help you prepare and feel confident and comfortable attending the event. 

The Setting 

As a guest at this event, you will be joining the Elders of the Elders Knowledge Circle Society (EKCS) in ceremony as they share their stories, honour those that have been lost, work together to acknowledge their truths, and heal from the tragedies and traumas of the past.   

Ceremonies are traditionally held with participants sat in a circle. The circle is a sacred symbol of the interdependence of all forms of life. The circle can also represent the tipi - a traditional Indigenous dwelling. The entrance to the tipi traditionally faces East, to face the rising sun, and the ceremonial Elders sit opposite that entrance, at the rear of the tipi, in the place of honour. Ceremonial objects and sacred bundles are also kept at the rear of the tipi, behind the ceremonial Elders.  

However, as you enter the Jack Singer Concert Hall on September 30th, you will see the Elders gathered in a semi-circle with the opening of the tipi facing the audience (north). This is a modified circle to accommodate and include you in the ceremony.  

How to dress 

When attending a ceremony, women traditionally wear a ribbon skirt or long skirt with a shawl. They may wrap their legs with a blanket instead, if wearing pants, as men do. These protocols are optional for you. However, because September 30th is also Orange Shirt Day we invite you to wear an orange shirt out of respect for the children who never returned home from residential schools. The orange shirt reminds us that Every Child Matters.  

Ceremonial Protocols 

Ceremonies always begin with a smudge and opening prayer. The smudge is the 'call to order'. The opening prayer not only acknowledges creator, but also sets the intention for the ceremony and its participants. There is no expectation for you to pray or veer from your own belief system. We ask you to simply come with an open mind and heart and to practice active and sustained listening during the smudge and entire ceremony, as part of respectful protocol.  

The smudge is also a tool for purification and healing. You may see an individual on stage ‘applying’ the smudge to themselves or others. As outlined in the Manitoba School Division’s Smudging Protocols and Guidelines: “When we smudge, we first cleanse our hands with the smoke as if we were washing our hands. We then draw the smoke over our heads, eyes, ears, mouths, and our bodies. These actions remind us to think good thoughts, see good actions, hear good sounds, speak good words, and show the good of who we are.” 

An Elder may also invite family members up to the stage to be cleansed or purified through the smudge. This is an opportunity for these community members, who continue to suffer from the devastating impacts of colonization, to connect with their traditions and with each other, and to heal. This is not meant to be exclusive. As a guest and audience member, you have already been welcomed into the ‘tipi’ with the Elders and you do not need to have the smudge directly in front of you to benefit from its purification. When the smudge is lit, take that opportunity to apply it to yourself, set your own intentions, say your own prayers, or cleanse yourself of any negative thoughts or actions. 

Ethical Space 

Ethical space is a shared space where different systems can exist with mutual respect and compassion. Most of us live in a Western, written system. We have agendas, schedules, minutes, action items, contracts, signatures, and the like. The Indigenous system is an oral system. Contracts are often made with a song. Meetings and other gatherings happen more organically. Time is a Western construct. In an oral system, things happen as they are meant to. So, it is important to understand that there is no space for a right or wrong way. We must meet in the middle. So, we ask you to clear your mind of any preconceived notions or expectations. Be present, know that everything is happening as it should, and experience the beauty and significance of traditional ceremony. 

Trauma Support 

The sharing of these stories from a difficult time in our history and in the lives of these survivors can stir up many emotions and responses. Should you need assistance, we have professional counsellors from the Calgary Counselling Centre and the University of Calgary in the Founders Room, adjacent to the Jack Singer Lobby, who can provide private place for you to express yourself, share your thoughts, and be supported.  

Resources for further learning will be provided at the event.