Interview the Elders

Traditionally, Athabascan people have looked to their Elders for advice and guidance. The Village has always relied on their knowledge of the land and its resources. Elders respect the traditional ways of conservation. They are a valuable resource themselves. Elders have a perspective on life that is closely tied to the land. With all of the changes occurring in the Villages, this relationship between the people and the land may be lost. In this lesson, students will interview the Elders about what was done in the past and what should be done now about waste, and how to protect the environment/natural resources. Concluding the activity, the students will record their thoughts and reflections about the lesson of the Elder(s) in their journals.