Indigenous Initiatives
Elders & Knowledge Keepers
Importance of Elders and Knowledge Keepers
Indigenous Elders/Elders-in-Residence and Knowledge Keepers are very important members who come from various First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities.
These terms/titles can have many different meanings but often it refers to an Indigenous person who has attained great knowledge of history, carries wisdom, and has traditional teachings. Since pre-colonial times, Elders and Knowledge Keepers have been passing their culture, values, and guidance through formal and informal education using Indigenous pedagogy.
Elders & Knowledge Keepers
Knowledge Keeper
Born & raised in Apex Hill, Nunavut. Lived traditionally and learned how to sew traditional clothing. Brought up with 8 siblings and lots of cousins. Happily married to Randall LeDrew, and between us, we have 7 children and grandchildren. She is actively working with the Urban Inuit community in Toronto. She has been elected to be an Inuit community knowledge keeper. She does ceremonial openings for organizations and has served lightening qulliq (oil lamp) for Ontario's Ministers. She makes her own outfits for performances at Pow Wow gatherings, throat singing & drum dancing. She has done presentations for Universities and symposiums on Inuit well-being. Her favorite pastime is sewing seal skin and creating art & crafts.
"It means a lot to me to spread my cultural existence and my heritage to people of another country, and help Inuit culture to be recognized throughout the world. I’m very grateful to Avatâra for facilitating this cultural exchange. I’m looking forward to our research and time together in Iqaluit and Dresden and I hope we can bring it back to the Canadian audiences" Naulaq LeDrew
Knowledge Keeper
Nancy Rowe, Mississauga, Anishinaabe, New Credit First Nation
Giidaakunadaad (The Spirit Who Lives in High Places) n’dizhinikaaz (is my name). Nancy Rowe is a Mississauga, Ojibwe of the Anishinaabek Nation located at New Credit First Nation, ON. Nancy holds an honors BA in Indigenous Studies and Political Science. She is an educator, consultant, and a Traditional Practitioner of Anishinaabek lifeway’s, views, and customary practices and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Environmental Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo. She is an avid volunteer who coordinates Akinomaagaye Gaamik, a grassroots initiative to provide educational opportunities for all peoples interested in Indigenous perspectives of life, health, education, history, and the environment. “Education is the doorway through which we all can create a common ground and understanding of not only Indigenous Peoples but also, and more importantly, our environment.”
Appointments with Elders and Knowledge Keepers
We want to ensure that campus community members can benefit from the teachings, wisdom, and support of Elders and Knowledge Keepers as they visit the UTSC campus.
Elders and Knowledge Keepers can provide guidance on:
- Wellness teachings
- Knowledge of traditional plants and medicines
- Value systems
- Languages
- Indigenous arts, crafts and songs
- Ceremonial knowledge and protocols
- Clan teachings
- Creation/Origin stories
- Governance structures
It is important to know that not all Elders and Knowledge Keepers carry the same teachings and may not have all of the answers you are seeking. For example, a First Nation Elder may carry different cultural perspectives and teachings than an Inuit elder. Land Acknowledgements are not "performed" by Elders or Indigenous community.
Indigenous Cultural Services at UTSC
Elders and Knowledge Keepers are an essential part of our community in supporting the UTSC community in learning Indigenous ways of knowing through ceremony, stories, and sharing.
Some examples of requests can include:
- Invitation to attend an event as a guest
- Participation in a lecture, class or seminar
- Participation in a traditional ceremony
- Advising and on committees
- Ceremony
