Elder Wanda First Rider

The Elder & Knowledge Keeper

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Role in Committing: Spiritual Guide, Historical Witness, Cultural Teacher

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The Spirit They Bring

The Elder provides the essential context and medicine. They remind the circle of who they were before colonization – whole, self-sufficient people with rich spiritual systems. They teach that trauma started with the hunger for land and resources, not just residential schools, framing current pain within a broader historical narrative. Elder Wanda, of the Blackfoot Confederacy, is a spiritual guide, historical witness, and cultural teacher for Stardale. Her decades of experience and deep knowledge provide the essential context for the work, framing contemporary struggles within historical and spiritual narratives of resilience.

Elder Wanda brings the spirit of unwavering, compassionate truth. She provides the sacred container for the work, cleansing the space and the participants through prayer and smudge. She reminds the circle of their inherent strength and beauty, teaching that their spirits are designed for survival and joy, not despair.

  • Historical Bridge: She powerfully connects past to present, explaining that trauma began with the hunger for land and resources, helping youth understand their pain is a legacy, not a personal failing.

  • Living Medicine: She carries and shares teachings, language, and ceremonies as practical tools for everyday healing (e.g., teaching dry smudge for those who can't light a flame).

  • Matriarchal Heart: She embodies the role of a grandmother, offering unconditional acceptance, remembering each girl's story, and making everyone feel like relatives in a large, caring family.

  • Wisdom Holder: They carry the stories, languages, and ceremonies that are medicine for the mind, body, and spirit.

  • Compassionate Truth-Teller: They speak hard histories with love, ensuring youth understand their pain is not their fault, but a legacy they have the power to heal.

  • Bridge Builder: They reframe "walking in two worlds" not as a burden, but as a strength, creating a sense of pride and adaptability in the youth.

  • Ceremonial Leader: They guide practices like smudging, prayer, and circle work, cleansing the space and the participants to allow for healing.

Key Characteristics

What to Look For in Your Community

Honour your local Elders. This is a respected grandmother or grandfather who speaks the language, knows the stories, and is sought out for their guidance. Their qualification is a lifetime of lived experience and the trust of the community. They are the keepers of the fire.

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