Smudging - Nookwezigan - a medicine for burning to make a smudge
What is Smudging? What is it's purpose?
The burning of various medicine plants to make a smudge or cleansing smoke is used by the majority of First Nation and Metis peoples. Smudging is used to create focus, setting of intentions, and it is also a self-reflection tool.
Why do we Smudge?
Within the school/classroom, it is a routine to encourage mindfulness and self-reflection within all students and staff participating.
How do we Smudge?
It is a customary to brush or wash the smoke over our eyes, ears, mouth, hands, heart and body. Some people choose to brush it over their backs, to 'lighten their troubles'. It is customary to use matches to light the medicines, when available.
All students will know and recognize the motions to go with the Smudge (without the actual medicines). We will practice before an actual Smudge so that we are all comfortable in class protocol. Even though there may be some students who may wish not participate in Smudge, they will are required to observe and recognize the protocols so that they can be respectful.
What do we use to Smudge?
During smudge ceremony it is customary to use one of the four sacred medicines:
Sage/Bashkodejiibik: Is seen as a women's medicine, and offers strength, wisdom, and clarity of purpose. It is used to symbolize the life-giving power of women. However, within a co-ed smudge, the sage is used to release any negative emotions, and to help ground the person using it. Sage is cleaned from the stem and kept loose within a cloth bag or container. It needs to remain dry, so that it can be used later.
Cedar/Giizhik: Is used for purification and to attract positive energy, feelings, emotions and for balance. Cedar tea has been used as a healing medicine. It's high vitamin C content was essential to the prevention of scurvy, in a time when fruits and vegetables were unavailable during the long winter months. It was one of the first gifts of natural healing shared with the European peoples upon their arrival to Turtle Island (North America).
Sweetgrass/Wiingushk: Is used by almost all Indigenous peoples in North America. The smoke rises, as our prayers/intentions rise above us to our Creator, the Grandfathers and the Grandmothers, and the Spirit World. Sweetgrass was one of the four original "medicine plants" given by the Creator to the first peoples.
Tobacco/Asemaa: Is held as a scared plant by all Native North American people. It is believed that Tobacco opens the door between the Worlds of Earth and Spirit and used in many ways by Indigenous peoples all over Turtle Island. If tobacco is offered and accepted, and a request made of the person accepting it, that promise is sacred. It is a commitment or promise not only between the people involved, but with our Creator and the Grandfathers/Grandmothers of the Spirit World. It must be honored. Tobacco may be carried around and used as a means of thanking our Creator for his gifts. For example, if you enjoyed a sunset, rainbow, good weather, you might leave some Tobacco on the ground, and say thank you for the gift. However, during a classroom smudge, tobacco will not be used.
A smudge bowl, and feather fan will be used. The smudge will be lit with wooden matches. Students will learn the four sacred medicines, but only Sweetgrass or Sage will be used in the Smudge. The smudge itself will be gentle and unobtrusive. It is not the goal to "smoke out" our room or students or neighbours. Students will learn the protocol to Smudge, so that they can take over and be a leader in the classroom during Smudge.
Also, staff and students in the area will be alerted as to the time and duration of the smudge so that everyone is aware of what is going on in the classroom. Posting a sign outside of the classroom door, sending a quick email out etc. is very considerate to others who enter the same area.
Students who do have asthma, may choose to opt out of the smudge or remain in the circle. I will leave this up to the discretion of the student and the parent via the permission form.
Who is allowed to Smudge?
All people are allowed to smudge. Everyone is part of the Smudge circle as we are all Human Beings.
Smudge will be facilitated by an Indigenous teacher who uses smudging as part of her daily life.
Smudging following COVID-19 Protocols:
Outside Smudge
Smudging Permission Forms, as well as Smudging Protocols and Guidelines 2019 can be accessed below. Please note, that this is for the school year 2019, and 2020-2022 guidelines have not yet come out.
What is Smudging? What is it's purpose?
The burning of various medicine plants to make a smudge or cleansing smoke is used by the majority of First Nation and Metis peoples. Smudging is used to create focus, setting of intentions, and it is also a self-reflection tool.
Why do we Smudge?
Within the school/classroom, it is a routine to encourage mindfulness and self-reflection within all students and staff participating.
How do we Smudge?
It is a customary to brush or wash the smoke over our eyes, ears, mouth, hands, heart and body. Some people choose to brush it over their backs, to 'lighten their troubles'. It is customary to use matches to light the medicines, when available.
All students will know and recognize the motions to go with the Smudge (without the actual medicines). We will practice before an actual Smudge so that we are all comfortable in class protocol. Even though there may be some students who may wish not participate in Smudge, they will are required to observe and recognize the protocols so that they can be respectful.
What do we use to Smudge?
During smudge ceremony it is customary to use one of the four sacred medicines:
Sage/Bashkodejiibik: Is seen as a women's medicine, and offers strength, wisdom, and clarity of purpose. It is used to symbolize the life-giving power of women. However, within a co-ed smudge, the sage is used to release any negative emotions, and to help ground the person using it. Sage is cleaned from the stem and kept loose within a cloth bag or container. It needs to remain dry, so that it can be used later.
Cedar/Giizhik: Is used for purification and to attract positive energy, feelings, emotions and for balance. Cedar tea has been used as a healing medicine. It's high vitamin C content was essential to the prevention of scurvy, in a time when fruits and vegetables were unavailable during the long winter months. It was one of the first gifts of natural healing shared with the European peoples upon their arrival to Turtle Island (North America).
Sweetgrass/Wiingushk: Is used by almost all Indigenous peoples in North America. The smoke rises, as our prayers/intentions rise above us to our Creator, the Grandfathers and the Grandmothers, and the Spirit World. Sweetgrass was one of the four original "medicine plants" given by the Creator to the first peoples.
Tobacco/Asemaa: Is held as a scared plant by all Native North American people. It is believed that Tobacco opens the door between the Worlds of Earth and Spirit and used in many ways by Indigenous peoples all over Turtle Island. If tobacco is offered and accepted, and a request made of the person accepting it, that promise is sacred. It is a commitment or promise not only between the people involved, but with our Creator and the Grandfathers/Grandmothers of the Spirit World. It must be honored. Tobacco may be carried around and used as a means of thanking our Creator for his gifts. For example, if you enjoyed a sunset, rainbow, good weather, you might leave some Tobacco on the ground, and say thank you for the gift. However, during a classroom smudge, tobacco will not be used.
A smudge bowl, and feather fan will be used. The smudge will be lit with wooden matches. Students will learn the four sacred medicines, but only Sweetgrass or Sage will be used in the Smudge. The smudge itself will be gentle and unobtrusive. It is not the goal to "smoke out" our room or students or neighbours. Students will learn the protocol to Smudge, so that they can take over and be a leader in the classroom during Smudge.
Also, staff and students in the area will be alerted as to the time and duration of the smudge so that everyone is aware of what is going on in the classroom. Posting a sign outside of the classroom door, sending a quick email out etc. is very considerate to others who enter the same area.
Students who do have asthma, may choose to opt out of the smudge or remain in the circle. I will leave this up to the discretion of the student and the parent via the permission form.
Who is allowed to Smudge?
All people are allowed to smudge. Everyone is part of the Smudge circle as we are all Human Beings.
Smudge will be facilitated by an Indigenous teacher who uses smudging as part of her daily life.
Smudging following COVID-19 Protocols:
Outside Smudge
- Outside - students are 6 ft socially distanced, masks remain on, they do not need to touch the smudge bowl while smudging.
- The facilitator will come around with the smudge bowl (while wearing a mask) and use the feather fan to direct the smudge to the participating student. The facilitator will be on the other side of the participating student's table. The student will do their smudge - in their spot - then the facilitator will move on to the next participant.
- No objects will be touched other than the facilitator handling the smudge bowl and feather fan.
- Smudge will then be concluded.
- In the hallway - students are 6 ft socially distanced, masks remain on.
- Students are given a small bundle of sage to conduct dry smudge.
- Dry smudge is conducted
- After the dry smudge the small bundle of sage is either kept by the student, or relinquished into a separate container to be burnt in a firepit.
Smudging Permission Forms, as well as Smudging Protocols and Guidelines 2019 can be accessed below. Please note, that this is for the school year 2019, and 2020-2022 guidelines have not yet come out.
smudging_guidelines_2019.pdf | |
File Size: | 654 kb |
File Type: |
smudging_letterhead.doc | |
File Size: | 68 kb |
File Type: | doc |