Aboriginal communities have many children: almost one-third of Aboriginal people are under the age of 14. Aboriginal people are working on education and creating jobs to build the future of these young people. They must also ensure that the values and beliefs of the elders are passed down to new generations.
The transmission of these values and beliefs is not always easy: like all young people, Aboriginal children want to live in today’s world of communication and cultural blending. To preserve their cultural heritage, they participate in cultural weeks where the elders take them into the forest and teach them how to live off the land. Elders also visit classrooms to tell stories and legends, to explain the craft techniques and customs that shape the cultures of their nations. This is how young people learn to respect their elders and to call on them to keep their traditions alive.