Rideau High supports Aboriginal smudging tradition

As a Manitoba student continues to fightto practice smudging, students at Rideau High School in Ottawa are making use of a new space designated for the spiritual cleansing ceremony.

• First Nations teen in Manitoba told not to smudge before school
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Grade 12 student Amanda Crete said being able to smudge during school hours helps her when sheneeds a break.

"All the troubles and all the things that go on in daily life and stuff like that school,stress it just makes me calm and takes all the stress away," she said.

Rideau High became the only school in Ottawa with a designated smudge room when it opened the Aboriginal Learning Space in January.

But the Aboriginal tradition thatinvolves burning herbs like sage, cedar and sweet grass has been banned for a Brandon, Man., teen.

StephenBunn, 17, was accused of smoking marijuana before school after practisingsmudging. When he explained his spiritual practice, Bunn was asked to stop to respect his school's scent-free policy.

The principal at Rideau High had a different approach despite the school's own scent-free policy. A separate ventilation systemwas installed in the smudge room to allowstudents to burn herbs without disturbing classmates.

"We've created a space where they feel welcomed and respected," said Geordie Walker. "A big part of the First Nations community is doing the ceremonial smudging."

But Crete said Aboriginal or not, all students are welcome to take part in the calmingpractice.

"It can help anybody. Not just an Aboriginal or a native or a Muslimor a Jew. It just, it doesn't matter," Crete said. "We can all do it now. We can all stand in a room together and be thankful and all our stresses go at the same time."