Elders Council – Keepers of Wisdom, Ritual, and Continuity
Guiding the Future by Honoring the Past
Introduction
The Elders Council is the spiritual and cultural compass of the Tuvalu Sovereign Vision. Composed of respected community leaders and cultural knowledge holders, the council safeguards ancestral values and ensures that each step forward honors the path behind us.
Role in the Sovereign Vision
The Elders Council has a ceremonial and constitutional role in all major aspects of Guardian and Arbor operations. Their influence shapes the ethical code that guides the AI, ensures all civic systems reflect cultural meaning, and provides a human anchor in times of transition.
Council Responsibilities:
Ethics Oversight
Approve updates to the Guardian Code of Ethics, especially in response to community dilemmas or system evolution.
Ritual Anchoring
Lead or approve civic rituals tied to infrastructure (e.g. coral crown blessings, Reefskin application, water naming).
Civic Memory Review
Lead or approve civic rituals tied to infrastructure (e.g. coral crown blessings, Reefskin application, water naming).
Override Authority
Participate in ceremonial override votes and public consensus gatherings for critical system decisions.
Cultural Resilience Strategy
Lead or approve civic rituals tied to infrastructure (e.g. coral crown blessings, Reefskin application, water naming).
“The canoe may be new, but the ocean remembers.” – Tuvaluan proverb
How Elders Integrate with Technology
This is not a project that leaves tradition behind. In the Sovereign Vision, elders are embedded directly in the technological stack:
Who Can Join?
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Elders must be nominated by a local council, school, or family group.
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They must be known for upholding cultural practice, community care, and oral knowledge.
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Digital literacy is welcomed but not required—Arbor terminals will provide voice-based access and steward assistance.
Ways to Participate
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🐚 Submit a ceremonial chant or practice
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🗺 Join the Ritual Review Panel
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🌊 Become a water ritual guide for Vai Koko
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🔎 Support ethics review cycles for Guardian AI decisions
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🌱 Mentor youth stewards through the Arbor apprentice tree