SE First Nations Inuit and Metis Program

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

We honour and uplift Indigenous Elders - Knowledge Keepers, teachers, and leaders who carry generations of wisdom, culture and resilience. Their care, guidance, and teachings continue to strengthen communities across Turtle Island.

At the same time, we must acknowledge a difficult reality.

Elder abuse remains a serious and often hidden issue:

- In Canada, 1 in 10 older adults experience some form of elder abuse each year
- Violence against seniors is often underreported due to fear, stigma, or dependence on caregivers
- Indigenous Peoples continue to face higher rates of victimization, shaped by the ongoing impacts of colonialism and systemic inequities

For Indigenous Elders, this harm is compounded by intergenerational trauma and barriers to culturally safe supports.

Today is not only about awareness - it is about action. We all share a responsibility to create safer spaces, listen deeply, and stand up against all forms of abuse and neglect. Let us honour Elders not only in words, but in how we protect, respect, and care for them - today and every day.