The Teachings of Elders – Jan Furst

In addition to the “temporary forgetting” of the women’s teachings and initiations which I spoke of in my last post, we seem for the most part also to have forgotten to learn from our elders.  In my community here on Bowen Island – there is an elder who has taught me many things over the years. 

His name is Jan Furst.   

 He is soon to be 97 years old.   Two days ago, I signed up for a Facebook account.  Why was I not surprised to see Jan already up there, making friends, networking in our community and our globe?   Jan is an inspiration to everyone in our community. Obviously he is progressive and moves with the times.   One of the most recent stories of his inspiration to all of us in this community was written up in the local newspapers.    Since a fall last year, Jan has been using 2 walking sticks to get around.  A community member saw him walking on the road one day and asked Jan if he would like a ride.  “No thanks,” he replied, “I am walking in the Terry Fox run  and I have to finish.”  For those of you who don’t know him, Terry Fox was another incredible inspirational Canadian who ran across Canada on one leg, having lost the other to cancer and there is now an annual Terry Fox run in Canada to raise funds for cancer research.

Jan started a fencing club for youth on Bowen when he was 90 or so, and he is always ready to lend a hand to students.  Jan also loves to get dressed up and walk in parades (most recently dressed as a troll in a parade called Bowfest) .   

Jan Furst dressed as a troll in the Bowfest Parade -used with permission from K. Spear

I will never forget the time, 4 or 5 years ago when I met Jan on the ferry on a Sunday morning.  I asked him where he was going.  He said that he had entered into an over the age of  65  team fencing competition (which is one of his loves).  Two days later I saw him and it turned out that his team had placed 2nd or 3rd out of 10 teams.  Knowing nothing about fencing, I asked him how many people he had fenced that day expecting him to say 2 or 3.  It turned out that he had fenced with 30 people!!

One year, Jan decided that he was going to make a Viking rowboat/sailboat for his granddaughter for her wedding present.  I was lucky enough to have my mailbox just across from his house and his garage where he worked patiently through the long fall and winter evenings.  Light burning in the garage, the door slightly open and always welcome for visitors.   I would stop in to watch Jan’s progress and to listen to his wisdom.   By spring the boat was beautifully painted with a dragon’s head and a tail to go with it – the boat crafted to perfection.  Jan published a book on boat building when he was 17 years old. He still loves to do it.  In fact, the same publisher in Norway published one of his most recent novels (yes Jan is a writer as well!) and he said that they had never published someone and then published another one of their books 70 years later!

I have numerous other stories about Jan’s love of life, his vitality and his teachings.  Most recently – one of the projects that is nearest and dearest to his heart is his Africa Village Project.  His vision is to twin towns and villages in North America with villages in Africa in order to share culture and values.  Moreover he would love to help support Africans with projects  that they would like to get started via microfinancing spoken about in a previous post.  I spoke with Jan, this afternoon, he would love to have help with this project.  Please contact him via Facebook for more information.  You will know him from his youthful face and the Light he shines out.   Thanks Jan, for the wisdom you share and the  inspiration you are to me and to the so many others your life has touched and continues to touch!