Elders' Circle
A Gathering of Wisdom, Connection & Community
Join us for a welcoming and inclusive Circle that brings together Elders from Indigenous and newcomer communities to share stories, teachings, experiences, and cultural traditions in a space rooted in respect, reciprocity, and collective care.
Guided by a Haudenosaunee Elder and an Elder immigrant from Latin America, participants will have opportunities to build meaningful connections, reflect on life experiences, explore cultural traditions, engage in creative activities, and learn from one another in a relaxed, supportive environment.
The Circle honours Indigenous ways of knowing through storytelling, seasonal teachings, connection to the land, and traditional practices, while creating space for participants to share their own migration journeys, cultural knowledge, healing practices, and experiences of belonging, resilience, and community.
There is no pressure to participate in any particular way. Participants are invited to engage at their own pace through conversation, learning, creativity, shared meals, and relationship-building.
Who Can Attend?
We welcome Elders aged 60+ from all cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life who are seeking community, cultural connection, and opportunities to learn from the lived wisdom of others.
Participants are asked to bring a small item of personal or cultural significance that fits in the palm of their hand. You may be invited to share the story or meaning behind your item as part of the Circle.
Dates (Tuesdays)
October 20
October 27
November 10
November 24
December 8
January 19
February 23
March 23
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Kitchener Public Library, Main Branch
Elder’s Circle Accommodation form:
If you have any accommodation needs or requests that would make the Elder’s Circle more accessible for you, please fill out this form.
Meet the Elder’s:
Nina DeShane Gill
Nina De Shane is from Montréal. She is Haudensaunee Mohawk, Wolf Clan. She has founded and worked with most indigenous organizations in KW Area. Nina taught for 35 years at the University of Waterloo and York University. She has lived and worked in many Indigenous communities in Latin America and the Caribbean for ten years and also nationally. She has a Conrad Grebel certification in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Nina currently works as Indigenous Elder at Wilmot Wellesley Resource Centre in New Hamburg where she continues to hold healing circles and moon ceremonies for the past eight years.
Eliseo A Martell
Originally from El Salvador, I arrived in Canada as a refugee in the early 1990s after being displaced by the civil war in my homeland. Before immigrating, I completed my medical degree and specialized in Pediatrics. I also hold two master's degrees: a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science.
My personal experience of displacement, migration, and rebuilding community has shaped both my professional and volunteer work. For more than 15 years, I have worked in public health, bringing together clinical expertise, community knowledge, and a commitment to health equity. Throughout my career and volunteer service, I have worked alongside immigrants, refugees, and marginalized communities to identify needs, strengthen community capacity, and advocate for more inclusive and responsive systems.
Some of my community involvement includes:
Founding member of the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre and member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Health Coalition.
Current member of the Board of Directors of the KW Multicultural Centre.
Current member of the Guatemala Working Group, supporting initiatives that strengthen community-led programs in Guatemala.
Collaborating with refugee and newcomer communities to identify priorities, develop culturally responsive initiatives, and support successful settlement and integration.