An 'elder was a leader or senior figure of a community, such as a village, or an entire species or group, who where honored for their experience and wisdom.
The village elders from the village on Barkon IV that took Data in met with the town magistrate Garvin frequently. (TNG: "Thine Own Self")
In a photometric projection of the Larhana settlement, Penno was among the village elders of the Vori. (VOY: "Nemesis")
Cancri elders standing on a platform behind Klingons
In 2256, the Cancri elders acted as politically neutral mediators to the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire in a secret meeting between the Vulcans and two independent Klingon Great Houses to discuss the possibility of an alliance. However, the meeting was a trap set by General Kol, and the Klingon party slaughtered the Cancri elders present. (DIS: "Lethe")