Community smudge walk brings healing, connection to North End

A North End community united in ceremony as part of an annual smudge walk meant to bring healing and unity.

The smell of sage, cedar, and sweetgrass wafted through the air in Winnipeg’s North End as the community gathered for an annual tradition rooted in Indigenous ceremony.

NorWest Co-op Community Health held its second annual Gilbert Park Smudge Walk on Tuesday, inviting folks to join in the tradition rooted in Indigenous culture and medicines.

“Working in health care and social services with NorWest Co-op, we just want to ensure that we’re putting ceremony at the forefront as well when it comes to health care,” explained Desiree Fredette, a skill development worker with the co-op.

The event began with a pipe ceremony presided over by Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers. Community members then walked through the park with a lit smudge, passing the neighbourhood school and food centre in hopes of cleansing the area and those who live there.

After the smudge, folks gathered for arts and crafts and a performance by a throat singer.

Grandmother Ivy Chaske has worked in the community before but has never seen an event draw such a turnout.

The Smudge Walk is what reconciliation is all about, she said.

“I think what is happening here is unique and is necessary,” she said.

“People from all nations, people from all belief systems walk together and the sage, the smudge, is also a cleansing, but the smell of it will entice other people to come. They want to see what’s going on.”

This year’s smudge also honoured the 20th anniversary of Gilbert Park Resource Centre – a non-profit under NorWest’s umbrella that offers a slew of free services and programs, like childcare and drop-in counselling.

Fredette said there aren’t a lot of resources in the Inkster area, so the centre is a big deal.

“Because we get to meet with community, give them a meeting place where they can come and now they can come here for ceremony and a lot more Indigenous cultural activities, which we haven’t had a lot of in the past.”

- With files from CTV’s Joseph Bernacki