Niagara College is adding a new smudge-friendly space at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and to celebrate, all NC students, faculty and staff are invited to a special open house on March 6 to learn more about the Indigenous practice of smudging, and the benefits it brings to our college community.
Beginning in March 2020, the College’s Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services (HWAS) offices in Niagara-on-the-Lake will be designated a smudge-friendly space, allowing students, faculty and staff alike to benefit from the physical, mental and emotional benefits of smudging, right on campus.
Smudging is a cultural and spiritual practice, common to a wide variety of Indigenous peoples in Canada and other parts of the world. It involves the burning of medicines, such as sweetgrass, cedar, sage and sacred tobacco. Those who practice smudging often find it helps them maintain physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health and balance, and helps them to feel grounded in stressful situations.
The HWAS offices are the second smudge-friendly space at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, following the opening of a newly renovated Indigenous Education Lounge in January 2020. The designation means students and guests visiting the HWAS offices for support or counselling can make use of the practice, with the help and guidance of counsellor Jamie Warren.
“There’s a calming effect that happens when we burn these medicines, encouraging us to slow down and come back to the present moment as we cleanse ourselves in the gentle smoke the smudge offers,” says Warren. “When we give ourselves opportunities to become more mindful and present, it helps us to feel more grounded in our daily tasks. I’ve lost count of the number of students I’ve seen smudge themselves right before entering an exam. The sweetness of the medicines seems to help them re-centre and refocus their minds.”
Students, faculty, staff and guests can stop by the NCSAC Wellness Lounge (formerly SAC Activity Room) in the Niagara-on-the-Lake Student Commons between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6 to learn more about – and participate in – smudging ceremonies, and speak with staff from Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services.
“The motivating factor for making HWAS a smudge-friendly space was the recognition that not all cultures practice healing and wellness in the traditional, westernized manner that we are accustomed to,” says Jay Burdon, associate director of Health, Wellness and Accessibility Services. “Recognizing the cultural differences that exist among our students is important to help us meet their unique, individual needs. Providing students with a space where they can practice this cultural tradition – practiced by a wide variety of Indigenous people in Canada and other parts of the world – demonstrates that Niagara College is an inclusive environment where the diverse health and wellness needs of the college community will be considered.”
