We had the privilege of having an Elder perform a smudging ceremony for us recently outside of our headquarters building, where the group of employees gathered in a circle with open minds and open hearts to receive the medicines and teachings.
Smudging ceremonies in New Brunswick generally include four elements as part of the medicine wheel teachings:
- Shell used as a vessel to hold the medicines representing water;
- Four sacred medicines (plants) cedar, sage, sweet grass and tobacco which are all gifts from the Creator representing Mother Earth;
- Matches to light the medicines are used representing fire;
- The smoke produced from the fire represents air.
Smudging ceremonies are for purifying, cleaning and being prayerful. This is also a time to reflect on your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. We smudge our eyes so that we may see all of the good things, our ears so that we hear all of the good things, our mouth so that we say all of the good things, and our heart so that we feel all of the good things. We smudge our mind, our body, and our feet to bless the journey ahead of us. Finally, we inhale the smudge in deep breaths to ground us, calm us, cleanse us, and remind us that we are loved.
We encourage our non-Indigenous brothers and sisters to join us by learning more about our Indigenous culture, traditions, and ceremonies, as it acknowledges our sacred beliefs and keeps them alive and well.
As we reflect today, we would like to share the wise words of Elder Dan Ennis of Tobique First Nation, as was shared to one of our own RCMP members. Elder Dan Ennis was referred to by many as a grand Chief, a friend, and a man of action. Elder Dan began his spirit journey on Thursday, June 3, 2021 and we honour him by sharing his teachings.
THE POWER OF THE CIRCLE
Many people see no significance in a circle; to many it is just a shape. However, that is not the case. The circle has great spiritual importance. To Indian people it is our symbol for Creator, the one who created all things and is present in all things. It is also the model by which our world, our society and our thoughts are ordered. It is harmony. This comes from the original instructions given to us by Creator.
Creator created the Circle and showed the People that all things in life are circular, round or cyclical: the Hoop of Life. Being a part of the Hoop of Life, all things, all of creation--the two-legged, the four-legged, the winged ones, the finned ones, and the many-legged creatures-are by nature a part of the whole that makes up the "roundness" and harmony of life.
Creator showed us many circular patterns. The seasons travel in a cycle. Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, Grandfather Sun and all of the planets and stars are round and travel in a circular path. From the very largest universe to the very smallest molecule all travel a circular path. Even the strongest, most powerful winds travel circular paths. They make up, and are part of, the "roundness". The circular pattern is evident in the homes of animals and birds and, for our people, for all those many years prior to contact, our homes were circular also.
Having received this knowledge from Creator's original instructions, and having lived, preserved and passed on these original instructions for many, many generations, our people still today are aware of the power of the Circle. It is the traditional symbol of harmony and oneness for all of creation.
To our people, Great Spirit is a power; it's a force, an energy. The best symbol to represent this is the Circle. As a symbol of the unity and connectedness of Life, the Circle encompasses all things: the seasons, the four directions, all creation and all of our life experiences are measured as points within the Sacred Circle or Sacred Hoop.
All of these things were shared with our Ancestors by Creator. Our Ancestors, in turn, honored and showed respect for these teachings by living them, preserving them and passing them on to the next generation. Thus, the power of the Circle (the Hoop) continued to grow. That is why all of our traditional ceremonies are conducted in a circle. By doing this, we show respect, live the teachings, preserve them, and pass them on to others so future generations will also recognize the Power of the Circle.
Woliwon |Wela'lin | Thank you | Merci
J Division Indigenous Employee Advisory Committee