It’s springtime again and summer is on the way. All things that have remained dormant through the winter are waking up and feeling renewed. We all have been through a tough year — but as we have always done through the many trials and tribulations, we as Native people survived and are thriving.
In this past year, the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) witnessed a resurgence of who we are as American Indians and Alaska Natives of this country. We renewed our “Indian-ness” by reaching into the past and relearning how the foods that kept us alive in the past are just as relevant now, the stories our grandparents shared still resonate and their morals still matter. Tribes are taking urgent steps to preserve their languages — it is, after all, the foundation upon which tribal cultures exist.
In this month of May, there have been celebrations and recognitions of the contributions made by our elders nationwide. It is “Older Americans Month” and we at NICOA celebrate and acknowledge the elders who have shaped what Indian Country is today.
Tribes that once only existed in the memories of their members are now once again walking upon this land. Tribes that once were riddled with poverty and unemployment are prospering through their economic foresight. Tribes who lost their traditional homelands are now gaining back what they lost.
Each of these accomplishments would not have been possible if the elders of their respective tribes had not shared their vision for their people. These visions were transmitted through ceremonies, vision quests, and through gifts given to them by their Creator.
Today, NICOA sees the path ahead for tribal leaders, tribal members and most importantly, the youth of these tribes. There is one certainty in life: We are going to grow old and, in the end, take the spiritual journey home.
Our elders have seen strife, wars, and other efforts to extinguish their existence and identities. They have lived through them, and they have survived. How and what they did to survive are important prologues to the story on how tribes will continue to survive. This is the precious story they hold.
For more than 40 years, NICOA has known this, and it has not forgotten its mission and purpose. We want tribes to survive and thrive for the next two millenniums; this is the role our tribal elders play in this world theatre.
To all who have helped us in this effort, thank you. For those who think this effort is worthy of support, please visit our website to see the work we’ve accomplished in the past year. May the Creator protect you, your tribal communities and our Mother Earth.
Sincerely,
Larry Curley
Executive Director
My name is Janice R. Anderson, and I am from a small American Indian community in Arizona, USA. I am 68 years old, a wife of 43 years, an elder, a mother/grandmother, and a community volunteer. I retired several years ago and am now a doctoral student at Grand Canyon University, Arizona, and in the candidacy phase.
I seek your support to advertise for research volunteers on the National Indian Council on Aging LinkedIn site. The title of my proposed dissertation is American Indian Caregivers. I use the Medicine Wheel, along with the Culture Care Diversity and Universality Theory (Madeleine Leininger), to support my research questions.
I have hit a wall in finding any American Indian caregiver research volunteers to participate in two focus groups. I am reaching out to your organization to allow me to advertise for research volunteers. Attached, you will find a copy of the approved advertisement.
I need 10-16 volunteer American Indian/Indigenous caregivers to participate in one of two focus group discussions that will take place on Zoom account.
My university’s Internal Review Board approved me to gather focus group data using LinkedIn. I already completed 12 individual interviews but need the focus groups.
I anxiously wait to hear from you.
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520-404-4317