Students get smudged by indigenous elders for peace and blessings throughout the year

[u/MelanieWalmartinez]

[u/Chonch_Monkey]

Clearly that's sage and she is trying to ward off the evil little shits from coming to school

[u/richardawkings → u/Chonch_Monkey]

And she would have gotten away with it to, if not for those pesky little kids.

Btw, some of y'all need to chill TF out. Just because you do no believe in something doesn't mean you have to hate on it. I'm am atheist but I still go to Christmas and Easter mass with my family because I love and support them and they are grateful for my company. Why not celebrate each other's differences instead of opressing it. I don't want the only source of diversity to ve AI slop.

[u/amccaffe1 → u/richardawkings]

I don’t believe in 12.5 percent of the world religions, I’m a one eightheist.

[u/regoapps → u/amccaffe1]

Theist means that you do believe in a god. So you’re more like seven-eightheist.

[u/LONE_ARMADILLO → u/regoapps]

ONE EIGHTH THEIST.

[u/RandomPenquin1337 → u/LONE_ARMADILLO]

Chill bro, I just gotta get the scale, no need to yell

[u/Ooficus → u/RandomPenquin1337]

ONE EIGHTH THEIST.

[u/HighwayAdorable6908 → u/richardawkings]

This! I’m an atheist as well but I respect everybody else’s beliefs. I never tell anybody god isn’t real. I also attend Christmas with family and bow my head when they say grace. It’s not hard being a decent person and respecting other’s beliefs.

[u/AMediaArchivist → u/HighwayAdorable6908]

Same I am an atheist but I work at a black baptist church as their archivist. I don’t attend Sunday service but I’ll bow my head down whenever the pastor says a prayer. I do it out of respect.

[u/Goodknight808 → u/HighwayAdorable6908]

"Why did God create atheists? If everything has a holy purpose, what is the purpose of someone who doesn't believe in God?"

The Rabbi replied: "God created atheists to teach us true compassion. When a religious person sees someone starving, they might pray and say, 'God will provide.' But when an atheist sees someone starving, they don't think God is going to fix it. They know that if they do not help, no one will. Therefore, when it comes to acts of charity and kindness, you must act as if there is no God—relying completely on yourself to change the world."

Basically an atheist who does good, does it on their own. No fear of divine retribution involved. Just pure goodness.

If you need to be afraid of a divine being in order to make you do good....you may not actually be a good person at the core.

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/richardawkings]

I’m an atheist as well but I’m okay with being smudged. The smell is delightful.

[u/DNastythenasty → u/richardawkings]

Well said.

[u/side_eye_prodigy → u/richardawkings]

i am also an atheist. the last time i went to the grocery store a woman i'd never seen before stopped me just before the entrance and asked, earnestly and politely, if i would say a prayer with her. i said ok and she grasped both my hands in hers and proceeded to recite a very loud christian prayer. for about 4 minutes!

time passed very slowly. a man came up to me to see if i was using the empty cart i had next to me and i motioned him to just take it. clouds drifted by. children looked wide eyed as their parents guided them past us. an unhoused man nodded at us.

then it was over and i went on with my life.

[u/Puzzle-Necked → u/side_eye_prodigy]

My man seriously went "so you using this cart or nah?"

[u/Mar136 → u/side_eye_prodigy]

Someone once asked me if they could pray for me (I think she needed to do it for her church or Sunday school or something like that), and I said sure to be nice. But then she proceeded to pray loudly and dramatically to God to take the devil from me and I was insulted tbh.

[u/richardawkings → u/side_eye_prodigy]

The prayer may have meant nothing to you but the company you gave her was real. She probably used the fact that you stopped as "proof" that God is looking out for her. I see it as "proof" that God is just an abstraction of our desire to treat eachother.

[u/MelanieWalmartinez → u/Chonch_Monkey]

LMAO

[u/Zappagrrl02 → u/Chonch_Monkey]

It didn’t work. They are still here😂

[u/ExpensiveRecover → u/Zappagrrl02]

"More sage!"

Ma'am we've already sent you...

"I. SAID. MORE. SAGE!"

Uhhh... will this be on today's test?

[u/bouncy_ceiling_fan → u/Chonch_Monkey]

Amen!! Lmao

[u/Liberkhaos]

What I like the most about this is that she asks the kids if it's okay first.

[u/AngryAvocado78 → u/Liberkhaos]

Thats the difference between this being okay and not

[u/Ask_bout_PaterNoster → u/AngryAvocado78]

I’d also suggest standing downwind of the path to the door whenever possible, so folks don’t have to walk through. But yeah, she got the spirit

[u/Miami_Mice2087 → u/Ask_bout_PaterNoster]

it's just incense, it won't accidentally bless you if you don't want it

sage grows native in california, we didn't get any blessings from the forest fires, alas

[u/pippinlup61611 → u/Miami_Mice2087]

It could set off someone's asthma. I know after COVID I can't take even a hint of smoke now. It immediately triggers an asthma attack.

[u/SnooRecipes6776 → u/pippinlup61611]

As an asthmatic I really wouldn’t like inhaling this at all lol

[u/OhItsKillua → u/Miami_Mice2087]

Some people are sensitive to fragrances or irritants and get migraines. I have to be careful with my cologne or I'll get a headache all day. If someone is especially strong in their scent it definitely triggers a headache out of me.

[u/explosivemilk → u/AngryAvocado78]

I mean, it’s an indigenous school, it’s part of their culture.

[u/miukiyo → u/explosivemilk]

Still, consent is important.

For the record, I love cultural things like this.

[u/SpecialExpert8946 → u/explosivemilk]

Yeah but nobody should be forced to go along with their culture just because.

[u/pizzaranch → u/SpecialExpert8946]

As i said above, I've never ever seen anyone "force" smudge on anyone. Its always a free choice.

[u/SolarMama62 → u/SpecialExpert8946]

Here in stupid Texas they are forcing schools to have Christian prayer and are forced to display the 10 commandments

[u/ywg_handshake → u/Liberkhaos]

Our kids' school offers smudging and there's a waiver form that we have to fill in. We always sign the form and our kids go. I am envious that they get exposure to Indigenous culture/learnings, as I didn't get it when I was younger.

[u/Ch00m77 → u/ywg_handshake]

Im glad things like this are happening though. Its really important to repairing old wounds. It wont fix everything but we gotta start somewhere

[u/RosemaryCroissant → u/Liberkhaos]

That’s generally always the case, even if most assume not! I went to an episcopal school for elementary, and the priest would offer the ash cross thing for Ash Wednesday (?) and I didn’t know what it was so I always declined, and it was no big deal at all. I was little enough they could have done it to me anyway, but it’s always optional in the places I’ve seen ceremonial stuff like this done.

[u/Wooden_Minute2923 → u/Liberkhaos]

I recall the summer I joined a river expedition with elders who insisted on smudging the canoe only after every kid agreed and when the quietest boy whispered no we all waited in the rising wind until he changed his mind and right then a log jammed free saving us from capsizing into the rapids. Asking permission first like that elder did makes the whole thing feel safe and true.

[u/gbakermatson → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

we all waited in the rising wind until he changed his mind

I'm getting "peer pressured into compliance" vibes from this.

[u/Ice_Cream_Warrior → u/gbakermatson]

| We all waited after he said no to change his mind.

ah yes great example of respecting permission and why it either is a) performative and meaningless, or b) meaningful but we don't accept no. Community and showing of support is very important and can be hard to do without ceremony and religion, but even in the example wooden_minute can't see that it then wasn't really asking permission, because they then waited until the boy begrudgingly accepted.

[u/The_decent_dude → u/Ice_Cream_Warrior]

Honestly, that's how most consensus decisions work

[u/Ice_Cream_Warrior → u/The_decent_dude]

Oh for sure and with very good reason. I’m not looking to dissect that but felt worth while pointing out it felt like the person was making a specific point of spiritual ceremony being inclusive and only if accepting when in reality it isn’t and that feels like a common logical fallacy.

[u/SnugglyCoderGuy → u/gbakermatson]

That's because that's what it was. Once he said no, either move on or let the kid get out and not participate in the blessing, and then get back in.

[u/CanadianWazowski → u/gbakermatson]

Peer pressured into preforming a religious ceremony

[u/Turgid_Donkey → u/CanadianWazowski]

Reminds me of that high school football coach that held prayer with the team. Several students said they very much felt pressured to participate and felt they'd be punished if not.

[u/Popular-Row4333 → u/CanadianWazowski]

I don't get this thread, Reddit is super anti religion, yet indigenous religion gets a pass for some reason?

[u/According_Register55 → u/Popular-Row4333]

For one thing, someone told exactly one anecdote and then the immediate response (OF WHICH YOURE A PART) was people criticizing the consent aspect of the ritual.

For another, most people haven’t been subjected to individual, group, and societal pressure to conform to indigenous religions the way they have with Christianity.

[u/no-thanks-thot → u/Popular-Row4333]

It's the underdog bias. Anything connected to norms, power, or the majority is verboten.

How else would one know a safe topic for use in virtue signaling?

[u/YourAuthenticVoice → u/gbakermatson]

Yeah, how is this ok?

[u/Crooked-Grinds → u/YourAuthenticVoice]

It’s not

[u/YourAuthenticVoice → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

WTF??? So you made that kid sit there and know he was holding everyone up because he didn't want to participate?

That's fucked up. That isn't consent by any reasonable measure.

[u/LeadConscious7599 → u/YourAuthenticVoice]

kid has to learn that he better conform or gtfo

[u/EdenEvelyn → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

So your group collectively shamed him into agreeing to do something after he very clearly refused? Thats not compliance, it’s coercion and not something you should be proud of.

[u/Infamous_Celery_2352 → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

The shit I read on this app.

[u/hectorsr3ctum → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

LOL that's not at all the same thing going on in this video. I assume she lets them go into the school if they're not okay with it. Not tell them they're holding up everyone from getting into school because they said no....

Maybe I'm just misunderstanding what you're trying to say I don't really understand the log part.

[u/tomfooleryshark → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

So he was peer pressured

[u/Technical-Agency8128 → u/tomfooleryshark]

Yes

[u/CringyEmoKids → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

So you peer pressured a kid into doing something that he was uncomfortable with?

[u/Sad_Air_820 → u/Wooden_Minute2923]

Peer pressured into agreeing to nonsense. Cool, cool, cool.

[u/GroundbreakingAd8310 → u/Liberkhaos]

This right here. Nobody cares that u have prayer circles at school we care when u try to force everyone to participate. The issue is most people dont understand this concept for some reason

[u/inker19 → u/GroundbreakingAd8310]

I would care if a priest was standing outside a school entrance asking every child if they wanted a blessing before they entered. Yes, there's consent, but it's not appropriate at a public school

[u/Intelligent_Show_406 → u/Liberkhaos]

Yes this. I was at a conference where smudging was occurring and it was in a tropical destination, so of course it doubled as our family yearly international trip. My 7 year old saw me get smudged and she just wasn’t into it. They totally respected her wishes.

[u/Dexodrill → u/Liberkhaos]

Thank you for confirming that. I can't hear the clip right now!

[u/AliEffinNoble]

This is a indigenous school on or near a reservation. Y’all need to chill out. You can clear see them ask the kids if it’s ok and that the elder looks to their parent giving the nod of approval.

[u/Gurnenthar2 → u/AliEffinNoble]

Indeed, the children are using their hands to pull the sage over their heads, which is what we do in our ceremonies.

[u/Odd_Old_Professional → u/Gurnenthar2]

Yeah, it was pretty clear that these kids are familiar with the ceremony.

[u/ohowjuicy → u/Gurnenthar2]

Yeah I didn't fully understand what that motion was, but to me it clearly indicated that the kids are familiar and comfortable with with this performance.

[u/double_think95 → u/ohowjuicy]

You’re pretty much cupping the smoke and putting it on yourself, that’s smudging

[u/Li-renn-pwel → u/ohowjuicy]

You ‘pull’ the smoke over the top of your head to bless your hair, over your eyes so you see good things, over your ears so you hear good things, over your mouth so you say good things, over your heart so you think good things, wipe your feet so you go good places/get rid of the bad shit you brought in, wing swipe down the back (I actually am not sure why… I think it is just a habit from us having long hair)

Hard core mode is doing all of this. Quick smudge using just whole face and head.

(This is for education not instructions)

[u/Future-Account8112 → u/ohowjuicy]

It's ceremony, not performance

[u/CrystalMethood → u/Gurnenthar2]

Over your head/eyes to clear your mind and to see the beauty the creator intends for you, over your heart to feel and show love to the creator and others, and your feet to walk the path the creator intended for you. I miss smudging. I haven't done it in years but I would love to start doing it again. I still have my turkey feathers smudge kit. I think its a beautiful spiritual practice.

[u/samesandchanges → u/Gurnenthar2]

this was wild for me to see, 'cos I'm Tswana and my culture does a similar thing but like an entire ocean away! (southern Africa)

[u/PVmanIsGG → u/samesandchanges]

We also do this in our houses to get rid of bad energy or spirits. It's very humanizing to see that both our ancestors believed in this tradition!!

[u/Silver___Chariot → u/Gurnenthar2]

This is the first time I’ve seen smudging. We Hindus do something similar with aarti!

[u/flamingspiral → u/Gurnenthar2]

We do that in South Africa too with Impepho (wild Sage).

[u/Sudden_Buffalo_4393 → u/AliEffinNoble]

I’m 1/2 Native, didn’t live on the Rez but “lived” on the Rez and went to school there. Never saw anything like this. I think it’s awesome and would have 100% taken part. My mom was basically doing this at our house anyway.

[u/InvidiousPlay → u/Sudden_Buffalo_4393]

Apparently these practices are very different or non-existent depending on the specific tribe.

[u/CornToasty → u/Sudden_Buffalo_4393]

Sorry, what do you mean by 'didn’t live on the Rez but “lived” on the Rez?'

[u/ThatHoFortuna → u/CornToasty]

Probably they had a lot of family there and hung out a lot. And carried a card which said they did for shopping, reservations don't have state sales tax.

[u/Sudden_Buffalo_4393 → u/CornToasty]

Like the other response said, I was there every day of my life through friends/family, I just lived in a house not on the reservation.

[u/evilpercy → u/AliEffinNoble]

Do not even care if it is a Indigenous school, everyone can use a little help this year.

[u/StrengthDazzling8922 → u/evilpercy]

I could use a smudge these days.

[u/GrandSyzygy → u/StrengthDazzling8922]

How come no one told me they were giving out smudges?

[u/DeanBranbeno → u/StrengthDazzling8922]

Forreal! If I got a smudge as I walked into work then it might make the day a bit better and less monotonous.

[u/huckle_buck_ → u/StrengthDazzling8922]

And there’s our smudgeness

[u/Confusionitus → u/evilpercy]

I went to high school near a very large indigenous community and we did this every year. It was completely optional of course but I always thought it was a nice gesture and opted in every time.

[u/b0w3n → u/Confusionitus]

Yeah looks like a great custom to participate in, I even think middle school and elementary school me would have been all in on it.

[u/evlhornet → u/evilpercy]

I’d cover myself with smoke and bathe in the purifying waters of Lake Minnetonka if I could.

[u/bigmike2k3 → u/evlhornet]

Game, blouses.

[u/evlhornet → u/bigmike2k3]

Make sure yo peoples is there to see it

[u/kitkat2024 → u/evlhornet]

We can have pancakes afterwards?!

[u/LightningShiva1 → u/evilpercy]

Exactly

[u/Starlightriddlex → u/evilpercy]

I'm not even religious, but if someone is handing out holy water at an entrance to a building, you bet I'm taking some 

[u/Loggerdon → u/evilpercy]

As long as it’s optional I have no problem with it.

[u/Plus-Finish-7415 → u/AliEffinNoble]

my cousin’s school does the smudging every fall too

[u/Imaginary_Dig_5014 → u/AliEffinNoble]

Looks like shes politely walking to the parents to ask if they would also like this treatment as well at the end. She seems like a nice lady.

Edit: lol I guess I didn't have audio on earlier so I wasn't aware you can literally hear her ask "Hey Mama, wanna smudge?" 😆 coincidentally that's also my go to pick pick up line

[u/Elsefyr → u/AliEffinNoble]

Sry, already grabbed the pitchfork out the shed.

[u/ayoungmanfromtheuk → u/AliEffinNoble]

Yeah it is just a totally nice gesture, the cryptofascist edgelord always get triggered by this shit it's so sad 

[u/Candid_Initiative992]

Just a question but do American schools do cultural exchanges? One of my favorite memories from school was exchanging students (New Zealand) with a Japanese school. Our students learnt about Japanese history & traditions, aswell as the Nihon Buyo dance while we taught the Japanese kids about the New Zealand history, Māori culture & our school Haka. We did a farewell Haka to the Japanese students on their last day & they joined in, stuff like that will forever be etched in my memory lol.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwjKC9WAalB/?igsi=NzN2Ympmc201eDN6 Japanese students doing the Haka, instagram link.

[u/maple_crowtoast → u/Candid_Initiative992]

Yes! My school did that in high school! The visiting students were always very popular 😅

[u/Forward-Cockroach945 → u/Candid_Initiative992]

Yes we do have cultural exchange students . My family has hosted a few one from Switzerland and a few from Brazil.  I have friends locally that have studied abroad as well. 

[u/levelZeroWizard → u/Candid_Initiative992]

That sounds like a seriously awesome memory. Exchange programs are so awesome for child development

[u/Silent-Coach-697 → u/Candid_Initiative992]

Yeah ours were from France. They came here first and then me and others went to them the next semester

[u/Consequence-Holiday → u/Candid_Initiative992]

Yes, California highschool student, we did an exchange to Japan. Myself and two other students went for one month then a group of their students came for one month. It was an amazing experience and I am eternally grateful that I had the opportunity.

[u/Iluvatar-Great]

My reaction as a European: "Wow this is interesting. It's so cool how different parts of the world have different traditions."

Me looking at comments: "What the actual fuck???"

[u/Fabichupi → u/Iluvatar-Great]

It's so fucking weird right? Even if I didn't recognize it as an indigeneous ritual, my first reaction was: how interesting, I wonder which culture this is. But some americans in these comments immediately assume that it must be people from their own culture, therefore imposing their own morals and cultural norms onto the situation, They don't even consider that other cultures exist.

I saw some defending themselves with the lack of context in the post (you didn't say it was a native school). But they still don't see the issue, that they have such an American White centric view of things, that the most probable scenario in this post is that it's white Americans.

[u/TheBabySealsRevenge → u/Iluvatar-Great]

This is a very common one too and anyone can do it if they feel spiritually inclined.

Saining is a Celtic ritual that is the same thing for the same purpose.

Many cultures use incense instead.

People need to chill for real.

[u/More-Lime1888 → u/Iluvatar-Great]

Same. I am Middle Eastern and had your same reaction. Wtf are those comments?

[u/Rusty_Shackleford_NC]

I did this exact same thing every day before high school. Only it was weed, and we tried to keep it from getting into our hair and clothes lol

[u/K10RumbleRumble → u/Rusty_Shackleford_NC]

Served likely the same purpose :) spent a little time with your people before the day. Had a little time. Maybe even call it a ceremony, and all walked in a little more level headed than you were before.

[u/Vierno → u/K10RumbleRumble]

I don’t even miss the high, I miss the process, the ceremony, the community, and ritual.

The process was the thrill of acquiring it. The illegality, the adrenaline the anticipation. Once you met up with that sketchy dude and secured the bag IT WAS ON.

The ceremony was going down to the basement, getting out the accoutrements, the devices, the papers, the grinders, having the food ready, the funny movie on deck.

The community was the best buddies in that basement who with one look at, you could tell felt the same giddiness as you did without even having to speak a word about it to each other.

The ritual is when it all comes together. Packing a fresh bowl after cleaning the screen. Passing around Barack Obonga, Bong Jovi, Billy Bong Thornton ,or for special occasions Dank Vader. Sometimes you’d have special guests in the basement that couldn’t hack a water pipe, so your one friend who has fingers like a Japanese origami artist rolls everyone a nice 6 paper joint. But no matter what you knew it was time once the lighters sparked up.

I really don’t miss the high, I miss all the fun, feelings, and shenanigans that quieted all the bullshit at that time in your life, and you and your buddies just stepped into your own world for a few hours and enjoyed each others company. Nothing more nothing less.

[u/jcwitty]

Here I was thinking “that’s pretty cool, I hope people aren’t weird about it in the comments.”

[u/MelanieWalmartinez → u/jcwitty]

I posted it here and in the other interesting sub, I got very different responses and not in the good way 💀

[u/RedOtta019 → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

Are you indigenous OP? Its pretty standard for absolutely anything indigenous to get comments from racists of all kinds from white to black supremicists

[u/MelanieWalmartinez → u/RedOtta019]

Yes 🥀 I swear I’m going insane because I’ll post something cool and then forget that a looot of people are still racist

[u/cantwalkintheshadows → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

This complete stranger thinks this is cool as fuck op, thank you for sharing.

[u/dougielou → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

I’ve already seen this video but I want you to know that I think it’s cool and interesting to see how other cultures welcome their children back to school.

[u/Cloverose2 → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

It's a beautiful tradition that makes children feel welcomed and supported. The fact that people are taking it as anything other than a statement of care is frankly bizarre.

I can't imagine being so miserable that one could look at this and see anything other than a community supporting their children and the children clearly welcoming it and appreciating it.

[u/Barackrifle → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

I grew up Irish catholic. This is tame for the amount of smoke they're throwing around and far fewer ashsy foreheads here

[u/SursumCordaNJ → u/Barackrifle]

Italian Catholic here and I thought the same thing. Shit, you get more smoke from lighting the charcoals.

[u/rglurker → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

Or just plain ignorant and think everything is evil.

Also remember. 50%+ are likely engagement bots at this point

[u/readyforclarity → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

I'm so sorry. I appreciate you sharing and thought it was cool. At my university, which sits on Indigenous land, had a sage blessing during my graduation :) we all really liked it

[u/throwaway098764567 → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

some are probably just anti religion not necessarily racist, which doesn't make it hurt less but is something they're more likely to grow out of... at least i did. i never had a problem with native american stuff, but religion in general i had a huge issue with when i was young because it was part of my abuse as a kid. took a long time to get over that and become ok with the idea that not all religious people are evil. at least a few folks may be early in a similar journey.

[u/finicky_foxx → u/jcwitty]

Damn, same here. I saw this and thought, "Aww, that's beautiful." The fuck is wrong with the people in the comments?

[u/daddysbestestkitten]

She asked permission...they aren't forcing anything on those kids... It's not like they're forcing their children to take part in daily prayer...

[u/lllllllllllllllllI_I]

This is a indignous school where the students are native Americans

These guys all in the video are natives

[u/SpookyTreeFrog → u/lllllllllllllllllI_I]

It’s Indian Community School in Franklin WI. Not on a reservation but a private school in the greater Milwaukee area.

[u/higgsbison312]

Fun fact as Central Asian (Kazakh and Kyrgyz mix) we perform the same ritual.

Another fun fact, recently learned that we have some ancient relationship to Navajo and Apache tribes?

Makes sense to me because we even look similar.

[u/VolatileGoddess → u/higgsbison312]

Indians too. And the comments are crazy. Lots of kids in India go to other-faith schools and it's fine.

[u/toothreb]

At least she's doing more to attempt to protect kids than legislators ever will.

[u/Papa_Raj]

I grew up on a rez and they did this at our school on occasion. Mostly in locker rooms before sporting events and going to assembly.

[u/TilapiaTango]

That little girl’s backpack is the shit

[u/Screambloodygore1184]

God damn I’m so tired of the internet you people are exhausting as fuck with your bitching about every little thing. Embrace other people and cultures and move the fuck on about your life

[u/Howllat → u/Screambloodygore1184]

Yeah good luck with that... Its amazing how the internet allows uncultured fucks to connect with anyone across the world and yet they are more closed minded than ever in their echo chamber.

Its weird to see what some internet people see as bizarre.

[u/richardawkings → u/Howllat]

Maybe the internet should not be user friendly.

[u/Surroundedonallsides → u/richardawkings]

The internet was better when it was just nerds

[u/Lost-Purple-7020]

This is beautiful. When I think of what happened to Indigenous kids in Canada - residential schools and being ripped from their families - to have an elder there wanting to give something protective is so meaningful and beautiful.

[u/Creepy_flamingo_22 → u/Lost-Purple-7020]

It definitely hits different when you think about that, doesn’t it? The fact that we tried to completely erase these kids culture, but it is still being practiced and embraced is really cool.

[u/chaunceythebear → u/Lost-Purple-7020]

Im Canadian and my kids’ elementary school (named after an Indigenous elder) has a smudge ceremony every Monday morning. We do not live on a reserve, or even have a particularly high Indigenous population at our school.

[u/Lost-Purple-7020 → u/chaunceythebear]

That is so lovely. I hope my kids’ schools will do that too.

[u/Captainxpunch]

Everyone that's butt hurt about this. Explain the difference between this and Ash Wednesday to me.

[u/garroshsucks12]

I saw the ragebait post for this and all the conservatives screaming how it’s demonic. But it’s a Native American school for Native American children lol.

[u/kwecl2]

Cool. We smudge our kids too at our school. Some pretty crazy comments in here about something that they'll literally never have to do.

[u/MelanieWalmartinez → u/kwecl2]

We have a smudging room in my university too, love it

[u/Freshiiiiii → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

I smudged in school. They always emphasized it was optional. I really liked it. It never felt like a religious ceremony (it was a Catholic school so I know what that felt like, and it wasn’t the same). Just felt like a nice meditation/blessing

[u/Aggressive_Tear_769]

I've been in this situation, my parents were all "peace, love, plants, crystals and scents" and we lived in a community with more people like that.

This kind of blessing felt very loving to me, I would know the person and what their intentions were.

Of course there are expectations but I understood that even if the magic wasn't real, the care and love was. Compare that to having to perform Christianity and having to sit through church where an old guy shouted at a crowd and I'd take the blessing every single time.

[u/WalkAffectionate2683 → u/Aggressive_Tear_769]

I got a catholic education and never an old man shouted at me lol.

Though that made me atheist as fuck haha

[u/HistoryBuff678 → u/Aggressive_Tear_769]

I think you have got to the crux of why many non-native people would appreciate a smudging, but not some Christian prayers. (I didn’t mind prayers either.)

It’s just the world has seen so many fake Christians who weaponize the Christianity “club” for horrible stuff that frankly has nothing to do with Christianity. That is disturbing.

Indigenous practices don’t have that fakeness about them that some of Christianity (and some other religions) have.

[u/RelevantDress → u/Aggressive_Tear_769]

For real, Ive been around a lot of spiritual and religious people in my life and nothing was oppressive or forced on me, except for Christianity. My pastor beat me when I missed sunday church and said I would end up in hell unless I cleaned up my act.

[u/Cosmic_Cosmos82 → u/RelevantDress]

Wait your PASTOR???!? That's INSANE. Wtf

[u/Icon8423]

This a Native school in a suburb of Milwaukee. It's a wonderful campus that integrates the culture along side regular school education. Beautiful building too, main entrance is being updated now, hence the use of this side entry.

[u/Genuine_Luck → u/Icon8423]

Indian Community School's Instagram Page

They have several more photos of this being done with different elders and students from the first day of classes a few days ago.

[u/ModestMouseketool]

I love being native and seeing my culture, thats a beautiful eagle feather fan! 🧡🪶

[u/EnvironmentalQuiet73]

Love this

[u/Open-Committee-998]

I would’ve been so honored 🥹

[u/daryan1]

My Persian mom does something similar to this, burns Esfand whenever i started a new school year or college etc. persian incense

[u/Crazy_Ad_91]

I would have found this as cool as hell as a kid going to school. More culture exposure, please.

[u/LokiDokiPanda → u/Crazy_Ad_91]

This is the kind of person kids are excited to see every morning guaranteed.

[u/MelanieWalmartinez → u/[deleted]]

I lowkey don’t mind as someone who’s 70% indigenous, don’t let the culture die!!!

[u/RTA-No0120]

If the kids are comfortable with it, I see no problem.

Even if it might not be useful, all they wanna do is give them luck, peace, protection and positivity throughout the year.

It’s not like they’re forcing anyone and it’s not like they’re doing that, for their worse.

[u/MelanieWalmartinez → u/RTA-No0120]

It’s a private indigenous school, and you can hear her ask before smudging

[u/RTA-No0120 → u/MelanieWalmartinez]

Right. I mean even if it was a public school. Isn’t the gorv forcing Christianity back into school? This one isn’t forced and respecting the boundaries of each individual, so I’d still have no problem with that.

The world and specially kids, are in a really dire need for positivity anyway, so let’s bring them the seeds of good, so the next generation can be a bit better than ours.

[u/PotentialWork7741]

As a Christian is see this as a act of kindness from a different faith and i see no issue with this. Beautiful, god bless

[u/SomeTheyCallMePig5O → u/PotentialWork7741]

Then you are a proper Christian. There aren’t many of you in America these days, and I accept your input as a caring human being.

I left the church long ago, but I accept these “rights” from other religions because they don’t come with any cost. They do it because they care, not because they accept anything in return.

Just as Jesus wanted. If more people were like you are, I would not have left the church. I LOVE going to church! But the constant judging and stigma have turned me far away from it as a whole.

[u/PotentialWork7741 → u/SomeTheyCallMePig5O]

I agree with you, i left the physical church for the same reasons! Lots of churches these days are built around fear.

[u/sprinklesadded]

Love this! Here in New Zealand our schools often have some opening ceremony like a haka or powhiri to welcome new students/staff.

[u/doiwinaprize]

Smudging genuinely feels nice, I recommend everyone who gets an opportunity to try it, like getting a smoke bath, something invigorating yet grounding and peaceful about it.

[u/YesWomansLand1]

It's very interesting all the similarities between the native cultures around the world. The native Americans, and the Aboriginals have similar ceremonies. This resembles (at least in part) a smoking ceremony that some Aboriginal cultures do. I've been to one it was pretty cool. Got blessed by the smoke. And then I went home and had a little smoky blessing of my own. Anyway this shit is all very cool. Ancient cultures are cool and need to be preserved.

[u/MuthiRappa]

God forbid people have some traditions.

[u/InformationConfident → u/MuthiRappa]

Not only their own traditions, but practicing those traditions on the land that was stolen from them.

[u/Lexi_Banner]

I enjoy that she asks first, too. Knowing how sensitive my lungs are to smoke, I'd avoid the actual smudge, and just appreciate the gesture from a few steps away. Awesome to see this being used for a positive start to school.

[u/Real_Topic_7655]

I love this

[u/soycin]

That's pretty awesome.

[u/albinosquirel]

Thank you Auntie 🙂

[u/Twistybred]

She is asking before doing.

[u/MercRussians]

More consideration for the kids’ consent to practice it than the Pledge of Allegiance. Used to get detention and even suspension for not standing up and crossing my heart for a god I don’t believe in. Indigenous people stay based.

[u/Both-Isopod-9263]

Damn reddit showing its racism again

[u/Logical-Pound-1065]

I would have loved this as a kid. I would love this now as an adult.

[u/Uncle_Paul_Hargis]

I'm sure this pisses off certain people, but I think this type of stuff is awesome. I can't tell if this is the US or Canada, but I think keeping indigenous cultures alive is incredibly important. This is obviously not being forced on anyone, it's being done respectfully.

[u/Particular_Yam_734]

Love this, that's quite special to do and also really cute. Also, that woman looks so gentle.

[u/Ozzlpz]

Dude those backpacks are legit. Where can I grab one?

[u/Monk_Lord_]

I love my culture 🥹

[u/DifficultBudget9864]

Where is this?

[u/chuck_diesel79]

The kids clearly know what’s up with this blessing.

[u/ashyyyyy]

I wanna get smudged too 😭😭

[u/Legal-Election5398]

love that the boy wafts with his hands like yes yes more of it please

[u/Tyrannosaurus-Shirt]

Smudging is one of the least aggressive words ever 😁

[u/soljakid]

It's crazy to me how people see indigenous people as an almost foreign entity....

This culture was there long before white Europeans settled there and forced people from their ancestral homes into reservations and demonised them as savages simply because they lived off the land and respected it.

Maybe one day the American government will collapse, and the native tribes will be able to take back the land that was stolen from them.

[u/Independent-Story883]

I love this 🥲
Keeping culture alive

[u/visionofacheezburger]

This is the tolerance and freedom of religion our forefathers dreamed about.

[u/RonShreds → u/visionofacheezburger]

Canadian forefathers tried to kill 'kill the indian'

[u/justacupwithgreentea]

Oh my god I cannot with the ppl in these comments🫡. First off, blood quantum is the colonizers idea and used to destroy native communities. First nation peoples were so heavily colonised that many are mixed racial. Even a person thats just 1 percent native is still native. Second, this is culture and tradition, not exactly religion. Culture is everything from the way you talk, eat and act. Just because this isnt part of what evangelical christian-raised societies think of as normal, doesnt mean its inherently religious/indoctrinating. its culture. istg some reddit atheists are so ""woke"" they walk straight back into racism. Im so sorry you have to endure this bullshit, this is awesome! I love ppl showing their culture and keeping traditions alive! Greetings from italy!

edit: In italy we for example have many local traditions that predate christianity and still exist becsuse they were passed down through traditions. Just in sardegna alone we have pagan celebrations during carneval where people walk around in wooden masks and sheeps fur! They represent the live of people on the countryside and are used to ward off evil spirits! I always love participating in those fests because they are fun and amazing! These traditions dont fucking indoctrinate everyone and are a great way to keep an old world that predates christianity alive. Its culture and tradition, not fucking indoctrination. During new years we write up the new year on our doorstep with chalk and leave it there for a year. We are often very loud and tend to yell, we use our hands to empathize what we are saying. ITS NOT INDOCTRINATION OR RELIGION ITS CULTURE YOU FUCKS!!! You white christian americans also do a lot of stuff i find very weird and strange! Its also culture and tradition! BUT THE THING IS IF ITS NORMAL FOR YOU YOU DONT SEE IT AS SUCH! YOU ONLY JUDGE NON JUDEO WHITE CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS AS BEING RELIGIOS WHILE IGNORING YOUR OWN BC YOU ARE BLIND TO IT!!! And just like that you discriminate against first nation and non white people, because you only ever see things from your very limited.pov

[u/mattogeewha]

A good smudging is soooo nice

[u/Horror-Primary7739]

Consensual and positive. Quite lovely.

[u/PNW_rough]

It's wild to see a bunch of negative comments here about religion or consents... when the people commenting have no idea where this is, what tribal
affiliations the school or kids have, their beliefs, etc.
Seriously, mind your own business and let parents intervene if they feel it's necessary. Your opinions and ignorance are ridiculous.

[u/NemoTubwhistle]

Give it a minute

[u/East_Ticket_3769]

this is so cute!