Question: I would love to know about the Elder programs. What services are available and intergenerational programs?
Each tribe has its own elder programs and support services for tribal members who are of elder age. Tribes offer a variety of services ranging from home visits for medical purposes to food and wood deliveries, to elder transportation to Walmart and Fred Meyer. Each tribe usually has an elders bus that buses the elders to the places they want to go. Tribes also have elder abuse programs that intervene in cases of elder abuse in the tribes. Almost every tribe has a specific building for elders to gather and use for meals, events, or meetings that the elders want to have. A few tribes also have housing specifically for elders on the reservation so they can stay and age in place on their homelands and amongst their friends and families.
Overwhelmingly, two of the favorite elder programs amongst the tribal elders are the elder luncheons and elder trips. The elder luncheons are an event where elders from across the state (or rather Coast Salish territory) gather together at a host tribe and have lunch together. There are often over 300 Native elders from different tribes gathered together at these luncheons. It is common for elders to travel from far places like Makah Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, and Squaxin Island Tribe for the elders luncheons in Lummi, Swinomish, and Tulalip. Elders are the teachers and carriers of Native history, ways of life, and traditional knowledge; getting to honor them and host monthly events for them to be with their friends and family from different tribes is a way to take care of the people who have raised our communities. Elder trips are also a favorite among Native elders because they are another opportunity for them to get out and about. Usually, they will get to spend a night or two at another tribe and visit with their friends who they might not have otherwise had the opportunity to see if they hadn’t gone on the elders trip. One favorite location for Lummi and Swinomish elders to visit is Nimiipuu territory in Lapwai, Idaho.
In terms of intergenerational programs, most of the programs within the tribes are inherently intergenerational, as Native people have always been intergenerational in our thinking and ways of being. This includes our households, how we raise our children, and the ceremonies we have. Most prominently it is noticeable at meal time during our community events. It is taught to the young people to serve the elders a plate of food with a little bit of everything from the food line. This teaches the young ones how to be helpful to the elders and is also a way to honor the elders for all they have done for the community. Additionally, it lowers the risk of falls in our community for those who are at higher risk of falling. Native elders always eat first, and then the guests are asked to eat, and then the rest of the community eats. Elders are always the ones who take seats at the tables or on the main floor area first and usually the families sit around the side or in the stadium seating (depending on the location). Again, this signifies the position of importance that they hold in our tribal nations by being in the center.
Quote from the emcee of a recent Swinomish’s Elders Luncheon:
“It’s a social time for elders to be able to connect with one another. It’s an elders gathering but it’s an intertribal gathering. Some of the other things we do is acknowledge other tribes there. Usually we have 26-30 tribes represented from the US and Canada. We also acknowledge the oldest elders. Just getting to get together and visit and laugh and share stories and cultural food. It’s an honoring gathering; a time for the elders in our communities to get together and be recognized.”
– danisəntən Michael Vendiola, Swinomish
Originally written in July 2024