The Aboriginal time conundrum

Page 19

Let me run a theory by you, one dealing with Aboriginal time perceptions. And Elders. But first, some background.

If I've heard my mother say it once, I've heard her say it a thousand times ... things are sure bad in the world today. Maybe true, maybe not. Personally I don't think things were much better in the 1930s during the Depression or at any other time. The world is a tough place at the best of times. But it does introduce an interesting concept, the way we view time. As the Rolling Stones used to sing, "Time Is On My Side", but then again, maybe Bob Dylan put it better, "The Times They Are A Changin'." And as Native people, our relationship with time is quite unique.

Traditionally Native people have always looked to the past for instruction. The future was often viewed as the past that hasn't happened yet. We always looked back to our ancient teachings to guide our way. More importantly, we always looked to our Elders for much of that guidance and teaching, because they were and are wise in the ways of the world and are put on this Earth to try to make our lives a little easier. Their world was a world we were all familiar with, and they already had experienced it and could share that experience. But I fear the times are a changin'.

In the world outside our window, we have all witnessed the disintegration of many Native families and communities, often because of modern issues like alcohol, land and water pollution, the legacy of the residential school system and a host of other unfortunate things like that. But I believe there may be other reasons-some that lead to our own doorstep-that are contributing to our modern troubles. It is, quite possibly, that descriptive term left over from the 1960s called the Generation Gap. I would like to rename it the "Elder/Information Gap."

The world has become topsy-turvy. For the first time in our history, today's generation of youth is in the unique position of having to instruct, that is to say be the teachers to the Elders in our communities. So the proverbial table has been turned around and community chaos and confusion is arising from it. By this I mean the world our Elders knew is remarkably different from the world our kids know today. The technology is overwhelming and alluring, and like any new language, it's best taught to a person when they are young. Computer and video games are quickly becoming like a new language. Ojibway is giving way to Dreamweaver. Cree is losing ground to Acrobat.

There's more JavaScript being utilized out there than Haida.

I have seen computer classes where Elders are trying to make sense of e-mail and downloading, and kids young enough to have been born when the Elders were still Elders are taking to it like ducks to water.

Our Elders look fondly back at their youth and still listen to the music of their childhood (often country in flavour), and think back to the first car they ever owned. They are remembering their past. Whereas the youth of today are looking forward to the future, to the next computer upgrade or DVD. They live for tomorrow. The world is in constant change and that is normal for them. Different perceptions of reality it seems.

What's worse, in our past it was natural for our children to grow up dreaming of becoming wise and loving like their grandparents. It may be sacrilege to say but it would probably not be a stretch of the imagination to believe that most kids today would not want the lifestyles their Elders enjoyed as children. It would be too alien. Too rustic. Too boring. Kids today probably couldn't tell the difference between a clothes line and an outboard motor cord. (Here's a clue, the clothes line is longer).

It used to be there was a time when we believed the Elders knew everything. Nowadays, it's impossible to know everything. Today we're lucky if we know something. When I was in high school, I remember reading about some white man back in 17th century Europe who historian considered the last man to know "everything." With our Elders that was only a few decades back.

Of course the wisdom the Elders do command can never be replaced. Theirs is the wisdom of life, experience, of knowing what's right and what's wrong. That kind of wisdom will never go out of style. Chances are though, things are just gonna get worse and worse. More technology changing faster and faster till only a very few can keep up with it. And because of this, when these kids of today become Elders, it's possible the "Elder/Information Gap" will be bigger and harder to bridge. They won't be able to talk to their grandkids.

I hope I'm wrong, but in case I'm not ... Welcome to the 21st century.