Elders will be sharing their wisdom and advice with Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council (NmTC) leaders in the coming year.

Five members of the new council of Coast Salish elders were elected for year-long terms and introduced to directors at the tribal council’s annual general meeting in December.

They will hold cultural and spiritual roles, rather than political ones, and will advise and guide on matters such as following cultural protocol and traditions.

Youth representative Mikaela Whitelaw with her grandmother Janet Moore – Qwa miyah – who sits on the NmTC elders council.

Members of the council and their nations are: Janet Moore, Halalt; Vera Peacey, Homalco; George Harris Sr., Stz’uminus; Germaine Sutherland, T’Sou-ke; and Elsie Paul, Tla’amin.

The new elders’ council initiative is led by NmTC governance director Valerie Cross-Blackett – Chemkwaat.

She said elders will attend tribal council meetings and will be on hand to deal with any sensitive matters in NmTC’s operations. They will also be responsible for territorial welcomes in their home nations before meetings.

“It’s important for our elders to be a part of what we’re doing,” Cross-Blackett said.

“They provide strength and peace and courage when things are tough. And we need those things… in order to really connect back with our culture and to make language and culture at the forefront of our operations.”

Two current members, Janet Moore and Elsie Paul, continue work they began when they were appointed to the first elders’ council last July.