Aboriginal culture is based on respect, for the land and for the elders. The communities are hierarchical structures where, although there is generally no single leader, the Elders can hold a lot of power.
Elders are usually addressed with "uncle" or "aunty" which are terms of respect. They are used for people held in esteem, generally older people who have earned that respect. From an ‘age’ perspective, they don't necessarily need to be the oldest.
Across every generation, Aboriginal Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in communities and families. They are trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and loved ones.
Elders are the knowledge holders of cultural language and practices that have existed on these lands for thousands of generations. The strength from their cultural knowledge and experience, in everything from land management to justice and human rights paves the pathway for future generations.
In traditional times, the elders took their youth out of their routine life to teach them and pass on wisdom, often for months at a time. Today this extensive and intensive knowledge transfer has stopped. In the context of Western education (schools, universities) there are fewer and much smaller periods available where elders can teach what they know to the younger generations. Sometimes such periods are described as 'ceremonial opportunities' – a time where elders can educate the young.
Maintaining the respect for and sharing of this knowledge is pivotal for the continuation of the world’s oldest living culture.