Downtown smudging offers healing
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/06/2022 (1238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The scent of burning sage filled the air of downtown Brandon Tuesday as part of the Smudging Our Streets ceremony.
The smudge was organized by the John Howard Society of Brandon’s Men’s Resource Centre to honour National Indigenous Peoples Day and the summer solstice.
“It was booming. It was really good. The elders, the youth, the community came together,” said program facilitator Valerie Sandy. “It was really positive and healing.”
Around two dozen people gathered for the event.
The day served as a chance for the community to come together for a feast and healing, while also celebrating Indigenous pride. Smudging Our Streets was designed to strengthen Indigenous cultures and spirits by helping people remember who they are and reinforcing peoples’ pride in being Indigenous, Sandy said.
“It’s having that space to be us. We do feel that living in such a western society, we have to be reminded not only the people around us, but ourselves as well, that our roots are deep and our roots are strong,” Sandy said. “We have to remember the ancestors that walk with us and we have to continue on. It brings out the strength in us.”
During the community feast served before the smudge ceremony in Princess Park, more than 100 meals of stew and vegan bannock were served.
Providing food to the community was an essential part of the healing process, Sandy said. When people gather in community spirit, it brings out positive energy in the community.
Smudging is a sacred ceremony because it is a form of Indigenous prayer, she said. Sandy described it as a private moment of prayer and participants were asked to not take photos during the ceremony.
The sage for the smudge was carefully placed and participants walked the downtown streets in united prayer.
People visited various key areas of Brandon’s downtown, including the Men’s Resource Centre, Samaritan House, The Blue Door, Huddle Brandon, Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation and Three Sisters Bannock.
These locations were smudged to reflect their important place in the community, she said, for those seeking help and support for their health and well-being.
“They carry a lot of grief, a lot of emotion and the workers themselves, the building itself, so we went there to offer a blessing, to offer a cleaning of the areas,” Sandy said.“It’s an opportunity to celebrate.”
Three Sisters Bannock general manager Sary Innerst and her crew crafted the meals for the Smudging Our Streets feast.
It was an emotional experience because it offered the chance to participate in the healing process.
“I always wanted to feed people with my food because I put healing into it and love and I want them to experience that,” she said.
» ckemp@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp