Honoring the Sagacity of Oneida Elders

Age imbues wisdom that only the passage of years and life experience can create. From safeguarding the Oneidas’ tradition and culture to nurturing and mentoring its next generation, Oneida Elders are the life force from which the Oneida Nation has sprung. The Oneida Nation holds a firm commitment to ensuring its Elders retain the best life possible by providing quality programs, from daily luncheons and ongoing activities to educational seminars, including the yearly Elders Conference.

Over the past eight years, the Nation’s Elders Program has sponsored a conference on aging in conjunction with the Consortium of New York Geriatric Education Centers. Nationally known experts in the field of gerontology have provided the keynote address over the years to attendees that include Oneida Elders and other American Indian elders, as well as health-care professionals from throughout Indian country.

Last May’s two-day symposium, “Aging Well: Lessons for Living a Balanced and Safe Life,” offered myriad workshops on exercise, fall and injury prevention, and relaxation techniques. The keynote address was given by a traditional Mohawk medicine worker and was followed by a talk by a traditional medicine consultant. Both shared their knowledge of natural medicines that have been passed down through the years.

“When I was a small child, I would sit and listen to the Elders,” said Clint Hill, Turtle Clan Council Member. “My father would tell me listening was the easy part, that I must remember what I heard because one day others would come to me and I must be able to pass on my knowledge. This is part of our oral tradition. This is a part of who we were, who we are, and who we should continue to be — a people in harmony with nature, our bodies, and our health.”

More than 200 people participated in the 2008 conference, nearly doubling the attendance since the inaugural seminar and drawing people from across the state. The conference’s goal is to provide elders with information pertinent to this particular stage of their lives, offering tips, insights, and hard facts from professionals. Elders are encouraged to take steps to add quality and years to their lives, following in the footsteps of the Nation’s great Chief Shenendoah (Skenandoah), who lived to be 110 years old.

Shenendoah was a proponent of Oneidas siding with the colonists during the Revolutionary War and was noted for his strong, tall bearing. According to Joseph T. Glatthaar and James Kirby Martin’s book, Forgotten Allies: “… no one impressed continental officers and soldiers more than Skenandoah. Although into his eighth decade of life, he still possessed extraordinary physical skills. The continentals respected his military reputation and admired his vigor in scouting for enemy raiders.”

While remarkable in many respects, Shenendoah’s long life proves that individuals can continue to make their mark regardless of their age. And that is the sentiment reiterated each year at the Elders Conference: Live your best life at every age.