Vision of the Elders
Vision of the Elders
Elders are respected individuals who play key roles in First Nations communities. They are important knowledge keepers who help to ensure cultural continuity. As living connections to the past, Elders serve as teachers, healers, advisors and counsellors. Carbon RX’s Council of Advisors rely on and respect the guidance and vision of the Elders and translate this knowledge into the working vision and protocols of Carbon RX.
Elder Dexter Asapace,
Born in 1947 on the Kawacatoose First Nation, Elder Dexter lived most of his life in this community he calls home. Apart from the period of time he was placed in a residential school within the Muskowekwan First Nation Reserve, Kawacatoose has always been his home. Growing up in what was originally called Poorman First Nation, Elder Dexter learnt from an early age how to survive and live off the land he called home. In his teen years he worked as a cattle rancher within the community gaining the knowledge and wisdom that he is respected for today.
Giving back to his community has been a lifelong priority for Elder Dexter. He has worked as a councillor for the Kawacatoose First Nation for 9 years and has been a school bus driver for 41 years and counting. Elder Dexter is always looking to help and serve other people. He is known to be a source of help in time of need, he is a knowledge keeper for the First Nations people and a respected Elder within the First Nations communities.
Elder Gordon Gadwa,
Born in Bonnyville, Alberta, and raised on the Kehewin Cree Nation, Elder Gordon Gadwa has been a life-long witness to the changes and developments for First Nations peoples in Canada, especially among the peoples of Treaty 6 in Alberta. Elder Gordon served for nearly four decades in community leadership and in service to the people of Kehewin Cree Nation: 16 years as a councilor looking after various economic portfolios, and 18 years as Chief.
Elder Gordon has been the Chairperson of the Tribal Chiefs and has served on the board of directors of the Alberta Indian Agriculture Corporation and on the board of the Bonnyville Hospital where he was born, demonstrating his life-long commitment to the health and safety of those in his community.
Elder Gordon plans to continue the work he began over his long professional life in service to others. He wishes to build upon what he’s learned by building partnerships for economic development, and to make important connections between people and industry. He understands opportunities are greater now, not just in training and education in agriculture, but in energy and other natural resources. Elder Gordon believes, however, the best resource to cultivate and nurture are people. His goal is to help provide the tools to allow his community to become increasingly self-reliant, with a desire to train the human resource first.
Elder Garnet Woodhouse,
Elder Garnet Woodhouse comes from Pinaymootang First Nation located on the Treaty 2 Territory in Manitoba. Elder Garnet served as a long-term Ogiimakan (Chief) for his Nation from 1999 to 2003, 2005-2015, and 2017-2021. Before being elected as Ogiimakan, he served as an elected council member from 1989-1999.
As Chief, Elder Garnet demonstrated and proved sound accountability by creating a direct strong networking relationship with the Federal Government to ensure the needs of his Nation were heard and addressed. Elder Garnet was instrumental in bringing resources for the betterment of his community. His passion was to ensure his community grew and prosper into a self-sustaining and independent nation and move toward a more sovereign nation.
