Elders are the knowledge keepers of our lands, traditions, spirituality, and culture. They are pillars in our communities, they are our teachers and guides.
They walk softly in the quiet places of the earth and listen.

Just as elders have respect for our histories, our futures, our family circles, our elements: earth, wind, fire and water, our land and all it provides, so to must we have the utmost respect for them.
Elders play vital roles in our communities and carry out many duties.

The following links are resource guides published by reputable institutions regarding land acknowledgment and proper elder protocols.

These are guides. It is recommended that you ensure due diligence in your research prior to requesting the presence of an elder at your event. Protocols may differ from region to region and among the different Indigenous groups.

Traditional Land Acknowledgement Information:
https://www.amo.on.ca/AMO-Content/Policy-Updates/2018/GuidanceonTraditionalLandAcknowledgementStatements

Links for Elder Protocol
https://www.caut.ca/content/guide-acknowledging-first-peoples-traditional-territory
https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/institutional-analysis/docs/policies/elder-protocols-policy.pdf
https://umanitoba.ca/student/indigenous/cultural-protocols-and-policies-for-working-with-elders.html

Ceremonial Tobacco
https://motherearthtobacco.com/