Have you ever heard of Indigenous Sweats? The real Canadian history and traditions of them? Today I will be talking about the importance and wonderful experience of Indigenous Sweats. Let me give you a brief history of Indigenous people and Canadian history, so you can have a little understanding of why it is so important.

 

Indigenous people have lived all over North America for a millenium, and have a huge population. Indigenous people are spiritual people, and have many traditions, culture, language, clothing, and beliefs, like every other race out there. 

 

 

Historically, they had many skills that could make them survive on the land. They utilized every resource that they found, and used every material so none of it would go to waste. For example, a Bison was an animal for which they used every part of bone, skin, and meat. They would use it for food, weapons, and clothing. Indigenous people lived off the land. Indigenous people were healthy and happy; my grandpa, and his father, and then his father have passed down many stories. They would tell us how they used to live. That we didn’t need any mind-altering substances that have been abused today, material things, how we connected with the land, how strong our bond and connection was together in each tribe, and how much love we felt for each other. Our ancestors held cultural practices, like powwows, where they would do sacred dancing, and drumming and singing to their ancestors. When it came to hunting, they used strong and smart tactics to make sure that the babies and children would always eat first so they could continue to pass everything they learn onto their children, to continue to survive and live together.

 

 

 

While everything in the world has their challenges, Indigenous people built a system to help them to live for countless years. It wasn’t until the British came around 1759 that they had to fight for their very existence. It was a very hard battle for over 100 years, and still is fought to this day. The government first didn’t understand the indigenous way of life, and wanted to assimilate them into North American British Culture. Indigenous people had to fight to have their rights, freedom, and culture back. Today, the government is working on continuing to rebuild trust, and the promises that they first originally were supposed to keep so they can have a proper and long-lasting relationship with the Indigenous people. 

 

 

This is why when Indigenous people practice their traditions, it is important for them to continue to pass down their culture and their history. This history of long, deep indigenous life—and more recently, an imposition of another way of living. 

 

Now that you have a brief understanding of why Indigenous people and their history are important, let’s get into what is a sweat. 

 

Growing up, I was slowly realizing who I was as a person, and how gravely important it is to know your history, your roots. I would attend pow wows where I would sing, and danced myself. When I first learned about a sweat, I was super excited to try it out. It was going to be a healing and powerful experience for me. 

 

 

It was on my Taykwa Tagamou First Nation, my community. This was a small small town; if you wanted to compare it to something, only about 100-200 people. It was after my grandpa passed away and I was about 17 years old. We were going to do a sweat for my grannie, who was deeply grieving for my grandpa. He was the only person that really knew my grannie. Nobody else on my reserve could connect with her, but my grandpa could. She trusted and gave all her love to him. Just like my grannie did, he did everything he could for her, and did everything to look after her. 

 

We walked up to a nice round shape, kind of like a dome, covered with hides from the animals. The sacred fire keeper and elder took care of this “sweat.” It was the winter time, but what I could tell is they do it all season, night or day. He had a fire going and some water with cedar inside a metal bucket. My grannie and I walked around the circle counterclockwise around the fire outside the sweat, because it was like walking around the circle of life. 

 

 

From entering the north, to all the way around to the east, south, and west. The circle has a big meaning in our culture. It had colors that represent people from all over the earth, or the seasons. Even from birth to death. The circle was important whenever you stepped into it.

 

We watched the firekeeper load the fire with big stones, watching them turn hot red. They also blessed the fire with the sacred medicines, typically tobacco from who is doing the sweat. Each tribe is different. You would then pray and bless the earth. You could pray for anything you want. It was also important for women to wear a skirt. It is a powerful symbol for identity, and strength. 

 

 

Now it was also good to remember directions from the elder who was honoring us in this important sweat. He had warned us about the heat, and the extreme emotions we could feel while going through the rounds in the sweat. It was going to be a powerful spiritual experience; that you would need strength and bravery. He also told us if we drank or used any substances before, that there was no point of us being there and we should leave now, but we stayed. We were sober. He also said if it was too hot, that it was okay to take breaks, and taking care of your health is important. 

 

As we went into the sweat, there were a couple other people there. We went from the left to the right to fit everybody in, but never entered from the right. The elder was in the center top of the sweat. He watched the fire as the firekeeper started putting the rocks into the center. The bucket of water entered the room and he started pouring that over the rocks. We were completely sealed in. The big thick steam filled up the dome. He started to pray and talk in Cree.

 

 

I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders and tears ran down from my eyes. I wasn’t too sure if I was crying or sweating? As he prayed more, more tears ran down my cheeks. I heard people crying and praying, as well. Others started to sing. I heard the elder call my name, and he told me how much he felt my pain. He didn’t even know that my grandpa was like a father figure to me. He blessed me with my name, and called me “Star Nation Woman.” He told me it meant that I looked over others and I am most powerful at night. That I am a natural leader, that I shine bright in others lives and bring spirit to others. 

 

I asked the elders later on why that happens, and they told me. They can bless you with many things, like a name, color, or clan. All those have significant importance. 

 

As the sweat stopped, I exited the dome from left to right. I saw my grannie as her tears dried up and she had a smile on her face. She said she could feel my grandpa with her. Sweats honor those who pass, and heal those who want to heal. It was a sacred experience and I understood how important it was to keep this tradition going, and how important it is to share with other people. 

 

I have heard from many Indigenous people that it helped them, from being reborn or starting to understand who they were and where their journey should begin; it all started from a sweat. We continue to practice this tradition to pass down to others so indigenous people can heal from the past, and the present, and from what the future can bring.