YWCA Regina opens ceremonial sweat lodge

A new ceremonial space and sweat lodge has opened at YWCA Regina to further support women and families.

The apihkêsîs-nôtokwêhtâwin – which means Old Woman Spider Place – aims to provide healing under Indigenous teachings and cultural practices, in addition to being a space for people to come together for support.

“When we go into ceremony, we’re praying for ourselves, we’re praying for our family. We’re letting everything go that wasn’t meant for us,” said Rosslynn Knudsen, the cultural connections manager of YWCA Regina.

“It’s a form of healing and gathering. We know that culture builds community, and community takes away from those risk factors that we see here.”

In addition to the sweat lodge and dedicated spot for ceremonies, the space also has a kitchen and rooms for counselling with elders.

The new centre also compliments the current programs and resources YWCA already offers, added chief executive officer Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen.

“The Old Woman Spider Place is transformational in terms of the services and opportunities that we’ve been able to provide women and families who are accessing our shelter [and] our outreach services. It’s really — not just in its space a representation of healing — but also an opportunity and a call to that healing,” said Coomber-Bendtsen.

“Oftentimes we see women who are in the midst of addiction, who are just starting to listen and just starting to hear the songs — see the fire starting. This really is a catalyst for them to start down that road of healing.”

SGI Canada donated $2 million to help the space operate for the next 10 years.

The Crown corporation said the space provides a great opportunity for cultural programs to take place.

“Indigenous people form a big part of Saskatchewan and we’re all about supporting the communities and the people that live here,” said Penny McCune, SGI Canada’s president and chief executive officer.

“This was just a wonderful fit. When I heard about the healing lodge, I thought, what an opportunity for them to celebrate their traditions and their ceremonies, because I think they’re just really beautiful, and I do think that they will help people heal.”

Since most ceremonial spaces are on First Nations, the Old Woman Spider Place aims to be more accessible to families in Regina.

Knudsen said the place is free of charge for people to use, encouraging everyone to participate.

“It’s free to the community. Our urban members are able to access it. We have four sweat lodge ceremonies a month, a women’s, a two spirit, a co-ed, and a men’s sweat,” Knudsen said.

“We welcome the whole of the community to join.”

People can check the YWCA’s website for availability.