25 Virtual Elders
Many websites claim to offer Indigenous Knowledge and information online. Not all sources are credible. Always approach online sources with caution. To help guide you in selecting credible sources of online information I have selected three examples below that offer credible Elder information online, along with the reasons these items are being published respectfully.
Examples
When entering this virtual space, all visitors are greeted with a coming ashore message which outline the respectful Protocol governing the online space, ravenspacepublishing.org. When looking at books, each author introduces themselves, their family, and the Protocol engaged in the creation of the published material. (Raven Space Publishing, 2020)
This virtual space acknowledges that Elders were respectfully approached through the National Advisory Committee of Indigenous Peoples. The Elders who contributed are all listed, along with their Nations. I also read the background work that went into this website – published in A Digital Bundle: Protecting and promoting Indigenous Knowledge online by Jennifer Wemigwans – to learn more about the Protocol and ceremony that went into doing this work in a good way such as attending a sweat lodge, feasting, and giveaway ceremonies (Four Directions.com, 2012; Wemigwans, 2018).
Indigenouslanguage.ca identifies each Elder who contributes. Elders share information in their Indigenous language and no translations are made. This limits the audience and ensures relational accountability (Circle of Indigenous Languages, n.d.).
