Page 30 - Beausoleil First Nation
P. 30

Spiritual Practice

                                                                  Wiingushk (sweetgrass) is one of four of our sacred
                                                                  medicines, along with sage, tobacco, and cedar. It
                                                                  represents kindness and strength. It is often burned on
                                                                  its own or in combination with the others to create a
                                                                  smoke medicine that we call a “smudge.” We smudge
                                                                  ourselves to clear negative energy and thoughts.
























                                                                  Members at the St. Francis Xavier Roman
                                                                  Catholic Church, 1948



                  WORDS TO KNOW                   On Christian Island, there are two churches. There is also a
                                                  Midewiwin traditional lodge. Members of the community may
                  Midewiwin (Med-DAY-win):
                  people who carry traditional    belong to the United Church, the Catholic Church, and/or the
                  knowledge and practise
                                                  Midewiwin Society, depending upon their beliefs. As in any
                  ceremonies using Indigenous
                  belief systems rooted in spiritual   other community, there are people who choose not to formally
                  teachings passed down through   practise any religion or belong to a society. Some simply honour
                  our ancestors
                                                  the spiritual values and beliefs that have been held within the
                  wiingushk (ween-gush-k):
                                                  community and passed on for generations. Some hold beliefs
                  sweetgrass
                                                  from more than one religion. Spirituality is a personal choice.















                  The Catholic Church                             The United Church


                 28    Beausoleil First Nation





          ogemawahj_community_book2.indd   28                                                               2019-02-27   10:33 AM
   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35