Smudging Ceremony

Bozho, thayek! – Hello, everyone!  My name is Matthew Bussler and I am the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.  I have worked for the Pokagon Band for just under 6 years. My professional background is primarily in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), starting as the GIS Specialist for the Band in 2013.  I was hired as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer approximately 7 months ago.  Soon after I was hired as THPO, I became involved with the Fort St. Joseph Archaeology Advisory Committee of Niles, MI.  At these meetings, I met Dr. Michael Nassaney who kindly requested me to participate in the Fort St. Joseph Field School as well as hold a smudging ceremony for the commencement of the dig.

I appreciated Dr. Nassaney’s inclusion of the Pokagon Band for this effort, for it is highly sensitive in nature.  The area of interest for the archaeological digs are upon the banks of the St. Joseph River or in Bodéwadmimwen (Potawatomi Language) is called Senathwen zibé or river with rocky current.  This area is very significant to the Potawatomi.  The St. Joseph River has always been a primary resource for the indigenous people of this area.  Some traditional Native Americans believe that this area is the place of origin where the original man, or Neshnabé, rose from the water.  Therefore, a smudging ceremony to honor The Creator, Mother Earth and all she contains was appropriate and necessary.

Smudging ceremonies are meant to cleanse, balance and maintain positivity - emotionally, spiritually and physically.  The four sacred medicines that we as the Pokagon Potawatomi typically utilize are Tobacco, Sage, Cedar and Sweetgrass.  All four medicines can be placed in a shell or a clay bowl to be ignited.  The teachings that I received stated that the smoke that rises from the smudge acts as a conduit of communication between Kchémnado, the creator, and the individual who is praying.  Your prayers become one with the smoke and rise to Kchémnado.  Tobacco, or Séma, is the most commonly used medicine to offer to the Creator when we pray.  Sage, or Wabshkyabgêk, is utilized to cleanse unbalanced energy.  Sweet Grass, or Wishkbëmishkos, is most commonly used for smudging – being utilized to clear one’s mind of negativity.  Lastly, Cedar, or Gishki, is placed in buildings for protection as well as brewed into tea to drink for good health.  Cedar Oil is also harvested to be applied topically to your hair, skin and clothing to protect your body from negativity and the contraction of ailments.  The smudging ceremony that was held for the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological field work was specifically to thank Mother Earth and the Creator for allowing us to disturb the ground to obtain knowledge of what once existed, that can then be passed on to future generations.