On June 26, the Fort St. John Friendship Society hosted a smudging workshop that gave 16 participants a hands-on introduction to an important Indigenous healing tradition. The session was led by Melanie Jansen, a wellness practitioner and owner of Vibrant Wellness, with support from Brandi Kennedy of the Friendship Centre.
Smudging is a ceremony in which sacred plants like sage, cedar, and diamond willow fungus are burned, and the smoke is used to cleanse the body and spirit. It is meant to release negative energy, connect to the Creator, and bring emotional clarity.
Participants took part in meditation and were encouraged to ask questions throughout the two-hour session. Jansen emphasized that smudging has no strict rules and can be adapted to individual needs — for healing, protection, or simply to feel grounded.
Jewelry was removed beforehand, as it’s believed man-made items can interfere with spiritual energy. Each participant was smudged individually at the end of the session, with smoke passed over their limbs.
Jansen, who reconnected with her Indigenous roots through her daughter’s interest in powwow dancing, called the ceremony a path to inner wisdom and connection to Mother Earth.
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