Author attempt to 'bridge the gap' with book on elders

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By 1991, a book detailing the lifestyles of Alberta's Native elders will be sitting on library shelves and available in school classrooms.

Compiled by former Windspeaker editor Dianne Meili, the book is geared to junior high school social studies programs. Meili will write the book after she finishes her research.

The research will involve interviews with Native Elders from ten different Alberta tribes. Excerpts from the book, which is being funded by federal and provincial grants and through the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta, will be published later this year.

"I have been in touch with the Catholic School Board. They are especially interested in the book. It could be a resource book for cross cultural social studies unit. I think it would be great if it could be used that way," said Meili.

She believes it's important to interview Native elders since many are passing away.

Many young Native people and mainstream society have no idea of the life experiences faced by this generation, noted Meili.

The elders are a bridging generation from the way life was in the past to how complicated it is today and they are largely ignored, noted Meili.

"When I was editor for Windspeaker, we would receive letters from people in jail, from the inner city and from young people wanting more cultural information. There is a demand for it," she said.

Meili recalls her own experiences, growing up in Calgary, was one where she was unaware of her Native identity. For instance, she know her grandmother was Cree but it didn't dawn on her that she was also Cree.

Her path back to her own culture began about ten years ago through her involvement with the Calgary Native Friendship Center.

I wanted to volunteer my time to do something," she recalled. Meili then began working with 'The Little Beavers'-- a cultural group for children between five and 12 years of age.

"I had to learn my culture to teach it. It was a path meant for me to take," she observed.

She says what elders say in her book will educate readers about the sharing and caring aspect of Native philosophy and of life in the bush country.

One of the elders interviewed was Alexis Seniantha from Assumption who is 83-years-old. Among his people--the Dene--he is known as Ndatin "a dreamer".

Meili spent two weeks with him. "It was incredible! We visited a dying women in Meander River who was 90 years old. She was suffering from emphysema. She could barely breathe. I felt so sorry for her. Alexis took his drum and prayed over he with his drum. He sang four songs. Her son said she couldn't speak clearly because of her breathing. Afterwards, she sat up and spoke," said Meili.

One of the biggest obstacles Meili has had during her research was finding good interpreters. Another problem has been finding elders who are willing to talk.

Meili has taken direction from elder Alfred Bonaise, who believes the book is an excellent idea.

"There are two sets of elders. Those who are more exposed to the mainstream. They know the value of the tools we have, to pass it along. They have no problem in speaking into a tape recorder. The others who are close-minded and say it shouldn't be written, I respect their feelings," Said Meili.

"I am being very careful of what I do. This isn't an expose of Native spirituality," she noted.

The research for the book is scheduled to be finished by March. She believes the book will be important for both a Native and non-Native audience.

"It's bridging a gap among cultures," she sighs.

"It's an incredible journey. It has a life of its own, It keeps taking me places and I hope I can do it justice," she said.