ItSA国际影视传媒檚 important to respect your Elders in Inuit culture, said Iqaluit Coun. Paul Quassa.

SA国际影视传媒淓lders are knowledge-holders and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why itSA国际影视传媒檚 so very important. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 very attached to our culture that you respect your Elders,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檝e lived longer, theySA国际影视传媒檝e experienced more life than you.SA国际影视传媒�

Now in his 70s, Quassa remembered when he was young and EldersSA国际影视传媒� names were not even used.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were just allowed to say either Ittuq or Ataatasiaq. You donSA国际影视传媒檛 say their name because of respect. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 how much respect we had for our Elders,SA国际影视传媒� he explained. SA国际影视传媒淚 was told whenever you go to a camp, if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 an Elder thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the first one you go visit. Just to go see and say hi and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 about it SA国际影视传媒� at least see them.SA国际影视传媒�

Quassa, former Nunavut premier and former Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated president, hopes future generations learn the cultural values Elders have as knowledge-holders.

SA国际影视传媒淎n ElderSA国际影视传媒檚 an Elder, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 a woman or a man. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 being respectful because of their experience,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

While Quassa agreed that 60 and above is a good number to be considered an Elder, he added those metrics werenSA国际影视传媒檛 always used to measure such criteria.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the olden days we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have numbers to say, this old youSA国际影视传媒檙e an Elder now. It was the facial expression, the physical being of being an Elder SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 how you see them rather than looking at it as a number.

SA国际影视传媒淎n Elder in a community may not necessarily be a leader but a respected Elder,SA国际影视传媒� he said, stressing the importance of holding Elders in high regard.

SA国际影视传媒淚 encourage all Nunavummiut to respect the social values of Inuit, which is respecting our Elders at all times.SA国际影视传媒�