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Annual Elders GatheringBackgroundFor the past 32 years, First Nations Elders have met in distinct locations of British Columbia. The first Elders Gathering began in Sto: Lo Nation hosted by the Coqualeeza Elders. Frances Harne carved a totem pole, which was used as a record keeper; places and dates were inscribed at the base of the pole, recording each Gathering. The tradition of the King & Queen began at the 1982 Prince George Gathering. Kings and Queens have been chosen for their leadership qualities and community spirit. Elders Gatherings are a wonderful time for people to visit and exchange memories and knowledge, to create new friendships and to renew old ones. These Gatherings provide a chance to gain perspective on how other First Nations live. The Basic purpose of the Gathering is the need for Elders throughout the province to have inter-social and community links that bind them together as a Nation. It allows them to intermingle with like-minded, like-aged individuals and their families, to reveal common grounds that strengthen those links. It will offer the opportunity to interface with youth, which helps to mitigate the generation gap, and allows the younger generations to demonstrate respect, regard, and honour for their Elders. Our Elders possess all the wisdom of the ages - knowledge and experiences that the younger generations need to guide them through life. It is very important that this event continues and that our Elders' legacy is passed on to each generation that follows. With the world we live in becoming increasingly modern by the minute, we need to provide the balance that comes from remembering the past though our Elders lives
Previous Kings and Queens
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