Jodi Sware

Wisdom of our Elders Jodi Sware

All the interviews in this book were conducted between Summer 2012 and Winter 2015, mainly in rural Alberta and aimed to capture the life lessons of an older generation. As a photographer, I saw that the wisdom of these people was present not only in their words but in their faces, bodies, and spirits. I aimed to capture the beauty of their wrinkles, smile lines, and unique voices. I chose photographs that showed each individual where they felt happiest and in a peaceful state of being. They all took ample time and distance to think carefully about the words they would impart to me, and eventually, whoever finds this book in their hands. When I began this project, it was my hope that I could gift families and communities by documenting our elders' wisdom to share with future generations, but I soon realized that perhaps I was the one receiving the most tremendous gift. My hope is that others may feel as inspired as I have by the openness, honesty, and thoughtfulness of the people who grace these pages. Each of them have experienced both joy and hardship during the courses of their lives, and have learned timeless lessons that will be valuable to readers of any age.