Smudging is a ceremony conducted by Indigenous peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. It involves prayer and the lighting of the four sacred medicines – tobacco, sage, sweetgrass and cedar – to cleanse and purify the mind, body and spirit. Conducting and participating in a smudging ceremony can support mental health by helping individuals cleanse negative energy and by creating a sense of calmness and spiritual security.
The ceremony allows individuals space to ground their lives and embrace the sacred medicines as a means for providing a sense of clarity. Smudging can clear your mind, so you can think clearly; can clear your ears, so you are able to hear the positive and good things in life; can clear your mouth so that you can speak good and kind words; can clear your heart so that you can feel your heartbeat as a celebration of life; and lastly, can smudge your whole self to bring a feeling of blessed appreciation for the day ahead.
At our operations in Manitoba, Hudbay has partnered with the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre and Indigenous Elder Advisor to share traditional knowledge. Together, both Hudbay’s Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) and Elder have provided an opportunity for employees and the larger community to learn and experience Indigenous ceremonies and protocols.
Traditionally, ceremonies are held in person to engage all the senses. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pam Marsden, Hudbay’s ILO, collaborated with Elder Margaret, Head Steppan of the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre, to conduct a 30-minute virtual smudging ceremony, which was presented to the Company’s senior management team. Presenting ceremonies virtually is a new concept for knowledge keepers to adapt to and embrace; nevertheless, Elder Margaret shared her knowledge about the traditional medicines, and how and when to use them, on a virtual platform.
Following the success of this in-house virtual event, Hudbay partnered again with the Flin Flon Aboriginal Friendship Centre to co-host a community smudging event that included five smudging ceremonies on June 21, in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day.
The day began with a pipe ceremony to bring positive and meaningful thoughts for the songs and prayers for the day. The community smudging ceremony followed the tradition of using the cardinal points, beginning in the east part of the town, followed by a south, west and north rotation every hour on the hour, and ending with the final ceremony taking place in the centre of town.
In July, a smudging ceremony for the restart of the refurbished New Britannia mill was conducted. ILO Pam Marsden, along with Elder Margaret, offered a prayer while smudge was offered to all the employees and contractors that made this project a reality.