Chapter 5. Intergenerational Wisdom and Youth Leadership
In Indigenous communities, the connection between Elders and youth is often described as a sacred circle: each generation has gifts to offer, and the strength of one supports the other. In the face of climate change, this intergenerational bond is more important than ever. Our Elders carry traditional wisdom about living with the land, and our youth carry the energy and vision to face new challenges. When these two come together, hope flourishes.
The Role of Elders – Keeping the Flame of Knowledge
Elders are the knowledge keepers. They hold stories of how our ancestors dealt with hardships, they know the songs for invoking guidance, and they maintain the ceremonies and language that imbue our lives with meaning. In the context of climate change, Elders provide a long-term perspective. Many of them have witnessed environmental shifts over decades – they remember when the salmon were plentiful, when the winters were reliably cold, or when one could drink straight from the rivers. Their memories serve as a baseline of what healthy relationships with the land look like. Elders also often understand the spiritual side of these changes. They can interpret signs from nature through the lens of traditional teachings: for instance, an Elder might frame the drying of a river as the river’s spirit crying out for respect. This perspective can be deeply instructive for the younger generation, grounding climate discussions in cultural context rather than only in scientific data.
Moreover, Elders are crucial for resilience because they link the community to its identity. In times of climate-induced stress, an Elder’s gentle reminder – “We have survived great challenges before” – carries weight. They might share stories of past crises (like great storms or famines) and how the people overcame them with unity and prayer. These stories instill courage in younger members: knowing that resilience is in our bloodline helps counteract the hopelessness that climate anxiety can bring.
The Role of Youth – Carrying the Torch Forward
Indigenous youth today are inheriting a world of immense uncertainty. They are, as many have pointed out, the generation that will experience the most severe impacts of climate change in their lifetimes (3). Yet they are not just passive victims; Indigenous youth have been rising as passionate leaders and warriors for Mother Earth. Across Turtle Island, we see Indigenous youth at the forefront of climate activism: organizing rallies to protect the water, starting community gardens and clean-up projects, speaking at international forums to demand action. They often bring a fresh perspective that blends traditional values with contemporary knowledge – many youth are adept at using technology and social media to amplify their message, but they ground that message in teachings from their Elders.
One challenge is that historically, youth voices were often marginalized. As one literature review highlighted, discussions about Indigenous youth and the climate crisis were frequently held without youth present (3). This is changing as youth demand a seat at the table. They have loudly asserted that decisions about the environment and their future cannot be made for them without them. The concept of “youth resistance” in climate contexts often refers to young people actively pushing back against exclusion, whether by organizing their own decision-making councils or by publicly holding leaders accountable (3). In our communities, this might look like a youth advisory committee working with the Band Council on a climate adaptation plan, or a group of high school students conducting their own water testing project and presenting the results to community meetings.
Many Indigenous youth leaders draw strength from their culture. A shining example is Autumn Peltier, a young Anishinaabe water protector from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, who gained international recognition for her advocacy for clean water. Autumn often cites the teachings of her grandmothers and Elders as the source of her determination – teachings that water is sacred and that women especially have a responsibility to protect it. “We can’t eat money or drink oil,” she famously reminded world leaders, echoing a proverb her people have long held. Her voice, at merely thirteen years old, carried the weight of generations. Similarly, countless other young Indigenous activists – from the youth who stood at Standing Rock to defend the river, to those in the Arctic fighting for caribou habitat – often bring Elders with them to protests or strategy sessions. They understand that Elders’ wisdom is a guiding light in the movement.
Two Generations, One Purpose
When Elders and youth unite, we witness something powerful. Take for instance a scenario from a coastal First Nation: after a series of damaging king tides and storms, the community decided to revitalize an old clam garden (a traditional method of cultivating clams) as a climate adaptation project. The Elders remembered how these rock-walled terraces were built and maintained by their grandparents; the youth had the muscle and enthusiasm to do the heavy lifting, as well as the scientific training to monitor water salinity and clam growth rates. Together, they rebuilt the clam garden. In the evenings, around the campfire, the Elders recounted stories of how the tides were when they were young, and the youth shared what they learned in school about sea level rise. Each learned from the other. The result was not only a practical food security project but also a huge morale boost: Elders felt valued and hopeful seeing youth commit to ancestral ways, and youth felt anchored and inspired by Elder knowledge. This is intergenerational climate action in a nutshell – blending ancient and new to face unprecedented changes.
Intergenerational collaboration is also a form of healing. Many Indigenous communities suffer from intergenerational trauma due to colonial history – gaps were created between old and young through residential schools and other policies that disrupted cultural transmission. By intentionally bringing Elders and youth together for a common cause, climate work can help mend those gaps. A youth who perhaps grew up without learning their language might suddenly find themselves sitting next to an Elder in a language immersion circle because they both volunteered for a tree-planting event. The Elder might start teaching words for the trees and animals as they work side by side. Such experiences not only impart environmental knowledge but also rebuild familial-like bonds and cultural continuity.
Elders often say that working with youth gives them energy and purpose. Youth say that having Elders’ guidance gives them confidence and direction. This mutual reinforcement is a buffer against mental health struggles: Elders provide reassurance and spiritual grounding, which can alleviate young people’s anxiety, and youth provide humor, music, and a fighting spirit, which can alleviate Elders’ sadness about the changes they see. Strong support networks that include both younger and older generations are proven to help communities cope with change and trauma (4). In traditional society, age groups were not isolated – everyone relied on each other. Reviving that integrated approach is key to resilience now.
Youth Leading the Way (with Elders Beside Them)
There are numerous instances of Indigenous youth stepping up with innovative initiatives. In some northern communities, youth have started climate monitoring programs – for example, tracking permafrost melt or changes in berry harvests – often under the mentorship of Elders who know the land signs. This not only generates useful data for adaptation but instills a sense of agency in youth. They are not waiting for outsiders to tell them what’s happening; they are documenting it themselves, guided by Elder knowledge about what to observe and when.
Another example is in education: recognizing eco-anxiety in their peers, some Indigenous youth have worked with Elders to create culturally grounded mental health workshops at school. One such workshop involved having Elders talk about the spiritual teachings of the four elements (earth, water, fire, air) and then having students discuss how each element is being affected by climate change and what traditional teachings advise us to do in response. The outcome was that students felt more empowered and less afraid – because they saw that within their culture there are instructions for caring for each element, giving them a starting point to take action. An Elder’s presence in these discussions adds weight and a sense of continuity: “We’ve faced challenges with these elements before; here’s how our people dealt with it.” It connects the youth’s modern worries to an ancient lineage of problem-solving.
It’s also worth highlighting that youth leadership doesn’t mean Elders step back entirely – rather, Elders often play a crucial advisory role. For instance, at important moments, youth activists frequently open events by inviting an Elder to lead a prayer or a water ceremony. This shows how leadership can be shared. The youth organize and speak out, but they do so with respect to protocols and Elder guidance. This approach is a model for the wider society as well: it demonstrates that making space for Indigenous intergenerational leadership can lead to more holistic and effective climate solutions.
Building Future Elders and Mentor
One day, the youth of today will themselves be Elders. The intergenerational work happening now is essentially training the future knowledge keepers under real-world conditions. Elders often mention that they are happy to pass on the mantle. Many worry that when they walk on (pass away), their knowledge might go with them. Working closely with youth eases that worry – they see that the next generation is ready and willing to carry it on. This also positively impacts Elders’ mental health: it relieves a burden and fulfills their purpose of transmitting knowledge. In turn, youth who take on leadership roles early gain experience and wisdom beyond their years. A teenager who has spent time learning from multiple Elders about medicinal plants, and then teaches younger kids those skills, is already practicing being a knowledge holder. That sense of responsibility can be profoundly stabilizing for a young person. Instead of drifting in the face of global chaos, they have a role: they are a protector of knowledge and a leader for their people.
One young climate advocate expressed that working with Elders “gave me roots and wings at the same time” – roots in the rich soil of her heritage, and wings to fly out and share that knowledge with the world. That is the beauty of intergenerational wisdom: it grounds you even as it propels you forward.
Inherent Rights and Youth Voices
Underpinning this theme is also the concept of self-determination. Indigenous peoples have the right to determine what their climate response looks like. Ensuring that both Elders and youth are central in that determination is crucial. It means our climate strategies aren’t just technical plans, but living plans that carry cultural values across time. Governments and organizations are gradually recognizing that they need to include Indigenous youth in climate policy discussions – not as token participants, but as real partners. Likewise, they are realizing the value of Indigenous Elder councils for advising on environmental issues. This is a space where our communities can lead by example: when we create our own climate action committees that have a seat for youth and a seat for Elders alongside the elected leaders and technicians, we model a form of governance that truly looks seven generations forward and seven generations back.
In summary, the synergy of intergenerational wisdom and youth leadership provides a powerful antidote to the despair that climate change can bring. It roots action in tradition and aims it at the future. Communities that foster these connections often find that they become more resilient, more united, and more hopeful in the face of the climate crisis (10). The upcoming chapters will delve further into aspects that often involve multiple generations as well – such as how ceremony (often led by Elders but participated in by all ages) sustains emotional wellness (Chapter 6), and how taking action (Chapter 7) is frequently a collaborative effort of young and old in the community. The teaching here is clear: like a braid of sweetgrass, we are strongest when the generations are woven together.
Below are some helpful resources related to the content in this chapter:
Reconnection Vision (Yukon First Nations Climate Action Fellowship) – A 2023 youth-led vision document created by a cohort of Yukon First Nations young people with guidance from Elders. It reframes climate action as “Reconnection” – reconnecting with Spirit, self, each other, and the land as the remedy to both the climate crisis and the mental health crisis. The Vision emphasizes that disconnection from land and community has caused imbalance, and that healing these relationships is key to a sustainable future. This inspiring resource can guide youth groups and educators to center cultural values and intergenerational knowledge in climate solutions. (See the Reconnection Vision website for a digital book and ideas.)
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” (Climate Atlas of Canada Video) – A short 3-minute video featuring Indigenous and other youth activists discussing eco-anxiety and how taking action helps them cope. They share that connecting and organizing with peers gives them purpose and hope in the face of climate despair. The video highlights that community and activism are powerful antidotes to climate-related fear – as one youth says, hope is something you create through action. This can spark classroom discussion on empowering youth leadership and mutual support.
Land-Based Learning Camp – “From Both Eyes, On the Land We Learn”, led by Braiding Knowledges Canada and grounded in the Sahtú Dene and Métis territories, trains young people as future Land Guardians through two-eyed seeing—braiding Indigenous knowledge and Western science. Participants learn about biodiversity, climate change, and land stewardship while building leadership skills, community connection, and cultural identity. The camp fosters mental wellness and climate resilience through Elder-led teachings, ethical knowledge sharing, and time on the land.
Chapter Highlights
Elders offer spiritual grounding, cultural memory, and long-view knowledge of the land’s changes and teachings.
Indigenous youth are rising as climate leaders—fusing activism with ceremony and calling for action rooted in identity and justice.
When youth and Elders collaborate, they create climate solutions rooted in tradition and aimed at the future.
Intergenerational projects—like revitalizing clam gardens, language circles, and land monitoring—build pride, purpose, and cultural healing.
Youth aren’t just future Elders—they’re already leading, with the ancestors behind them and generations ahead relying on their courage.
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