Lynal Ernest, left, and Shanda Sapp say they should have a right to smudge in their home and question Battlefords Housing Authority for not allowing the practice in its ban on ceremonial smoke. The Saskatchewan Housing Corp., however says people can request special permission as an exception. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff) : Angela Brown

By Angela Brown

Honouring tradition

Family questions housing policy on right to smudge

Mar 11, 2019 | 2:47 PM

Casting a solemn eye on a few tea-spoon-sized samplings of sweetgrass, a natural herb, sitting unlit in a container on his table top in front of him, Lynal Ernest says it isn’t right.

Ernest and his wife Shanda Sapp would normally burn sweetgrass at the end of the day, just as they do in the morning as part of their culture.

But they are upset they will not longer be able to do so inside their home, after recently receiving a notice from the Battlefords Housing Authority (BHA) that said as part of its smoking policy, ceremonial smoke is not allowed in any of its residences. The notice said it is only allowed in designated areas outside, at least three metres away from the buildings.

The Saskatchewan Housing Corp., which oversees BHA, indicates there are exceptions for ceremonial smoke with permission from the housing authority, although the BHA did not include this provision on its letter to tenants.

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When he saw the letter from BHA, he felt “disappointed and frustrated” with what he sees as a lack of understanding.

Ernest said the housing authority should have talked to its Indigenous tenants first about the issue.

His wife Shanda Sapp, originally from Little Pine First Nation, feels the same and said “it was pretty degrading to me,” when she saw the letter.

Ernest said smudging is part of his culture.

“Normally, we’ll smudge in the morning when we wake up,” he said. “It’s our way of giving thanks when we wake up, and when we go to bed at night so we can sleep well. It’s our routine… It’s who we are as Nêhiyawak Cree First Nations people. It’s our way of life.

“We cannot survive without our blessings to God,” he added. “It’s how we’ve been taught to live on this earth – to bless ourselves and bless our children.”

Sweetgrass shown in a container that would be used for a smudging practice. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

He said the amount of smoke the smudging practise creates is minimal, noting it is comparative to burning incense.

Ernest said he feels the Indigenous community is being discriminated against by not being allowed to practice their faith with the ban on smudging.

“I don’t want to use the word prejudice or racism,” he said. “I believe it’s really a lack of understanding. If they could be in our shoes and see what it means to us then maybe they could understand. I believe we need to try and make them understand instead of reacting in anger. It does upset me, but I want people to understand what exactly this means to us.”

On the issue of smudging outside, Ernest said people can’t be expected to smudge outside in – 20 C. It’s also not appropriate for such a sacred practise that should be done at home, he said, believing it to be a human rights and reconciliation issue.

“We are a colonized people. We are also relearning our traditional values. We’re learning how to use the smudge again,” Ernest said.

He also questions whether the policy violates tenants’ legal rights.

The policy is not the same for rental company Macro Properties, which rents out units in the Battlefords.

“We don’t allow smoking which includes the use of cannabis but we do allow smudging or any other religious practices,” said property manager Ramona Maraj.

“We have other people as well who use incense; it’s a cultural or religious practise so we do allow it. I think it’s a person’s right. Everybody has a right to pray or worship which ever religion they follow.”

Ernest plans to take the issue further and see if the policy can be changed.

In a statement to battlefordsNOW, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation said its ban on ceremonial smoke is part of its no-smoking policy, since it says smoke negatively affects indoor air quality and is harmful to those with medical conditions.

The ban is part of a provincial policy for SHC, which indicates people would need to request permission to use ceremonial smoke.

North Battleford lawyer Benedict Feist said he has been approached by some people looking for advice on the issue.

He recommended tenants contact the BHA directly to explain their situation, ask for permission to smudge, which he said should be considered a “reasonable accommodation for religious practices.”

“In this case, they (BHA) might put in a blanket ban on smudging, with the allowance that if there is someone that wanted to smudge every day that they are able to go to the landlord and request permission for that to occur,” he said.

But he said there may be individual extenuating circumstances to consider – like a next door neighbour in with a respiratory problem – but said each case would be considered separately.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow