So you're going to your first sweat, here's what to know...

Before I start here, I want to acknowledge that I am no expert and that the sweat lodge teachings are not mine to share. However, I recently sweat with a number of first timers and as with so many things in Indigenous communities, they just had to figure it out hahaha. They were thrown into it and had to be corrected on protocols rather than told what those protocols were upfront and what to expect from a sweat itself. That 'figure it out' style works for some folks, but I also know that it's a barrier for some. So here are the basics of what to expect at a sweat, things that you should know, not what happens behind the scenes, noting that different Elders will do things differently and that these are simply some common practices...

Things to be mindful/ask about of before attending a sweat...

• 4 Day Rule

  • Many lodges hold the expectation that you be 4 days sober before and after the sweat. That means no alcohol, marijuana, or any other substances.

  • If this is a concern for you, you can ask the helper/organizer about it beforehand. Not all lodges uphold the 4 day rule.

• Gender identity and expression

  • Most sweats are still very gendered and have different expectations/protocols based on gender.

  • Even if the Elder is welcoming of diverse gender-identities, they still tend to use largely gendered language, this can be triggering for some folks.

  • If this is a concern for you, I recommend speaking with the helper or even the Elder ahead of time to talk it through and make sure it feels good for you.

• Moontime

  • As with many ceremonies, many lodges ask that women & womb-bearers on their moontime (period) do not attend the sweat. This expectation can be quite strict including spotting before/after your period.

  • Check-in with the helper if you will be bleeding during the sweat to see what their protocols are.

• Mobility concerns

  • For a sweat, you will be crawling and sitting on the ground. If this is a concern for you, I recommend speaking to the helper to see if any accommodations can be made to make the sweat accessible for you.

• Medical/health concerns

  • If you are currently on heavy medications, have heart or any big medical/health concerns, it's a good idea to check-in with the helper beforehand.

With all of this said, not every Elder/lodge/experience will be the right fit for you and it's okay to wait until you've found an Elder and a space that you feel safe and in alignment with to sweat.

What to bring...

• Towel

• Change of clothes

• Water bottle

• Optional: slides/flipflops (you will enter the lodge barefoot, leaving shoes outside, slides/flipflops can be nice to slip in and out of)

• Offering: Depending on who you are sweating with (community members, an organizations, etc.) it's good practice to bring an offering. This offering will depend on the Elder as well as your relationship/role, it's good practice to ask the helper/organizer what you should bring. Commonly, you will be expected to bring...

  • Tobacco

    • Depending on how facilitated the sweat is, you may need tobacco both for the fire and for the Elder.

      • For the fire, you will need either traditional tobacco (in leaf form) or loose tobacco (which you can get from gas stations, smoke shops, etc.)

      • For the Elder, it's best to ask what they want. This may be a tobacco tie, a pouch of tobacco (leaf or loose), or a pack of cigarettes.

  • Something for the feast (ideally traditional foods)

  • Sometimes, there may also be offerings of...

    • money

    • medicines

    • berries

What to wear...

• As mentioned above, most sweats still have different expectations/protocols based on gender. Attire is one place this shows up...

  • Women: It is typically expected that women wear a skirt and t-shirt. I have seen some stricter lodges specify that it be a high neckline, long sleeve, and that the shirt be white.

  • Men: Wear shorts and either a t-shirt or no shirt.

• You will also be expected to take off all jewellery/metal.

  • For the most part, facial/non-removable jewellery is okay, but I have been asked to flip my nose ring up into my nose so it wasn't 'out'/visible.

Entering the lodge:

• Before you enter the lodge, you will take some tobacco to the sacred fire and put it in the fire with a prayer.

• When you enter the lodge, pause at the door and acknowledge the transition saying "All My Relations", "Msit No’kmaq", whatever this acknowledgment is in your language or what the Elder directs you to.

• Enter the lodge, crawling to the left in a clockwise rotation. You will somewhat have to crawl over/in front of the other folks who are already in the lodge and will take your seat to the left of the person who entered just before you.

• Women typically enter first and will take their seats just to the left of the door.

• If you are the first or last person entering the lodge, be mindful to leave space for the Elder and their helper, they will sit on either side of the door.

• Some folks choose to bring their towel in with them to cover up from the cold between rounds (especially in the winter) and to wipe sweat throughout. This isn't necessary though and I typically leave my towel outside.

Before the first round:

• Once everyone is inside the lodge, the fire keeper will start bringing the hot stones in and placing them in the pit in the centre. This is typically a time of silence to acknowledge the ancestors entering the space.

• Once the stones have been brought in, the door will close and it will be pitch black other than the faint glow of the stones.

• The Elder will pass around the pipe to receive your prayers.

  • There are many ways to handle/hold the pipe, but the basics are the bowl in one hand and the stem in the other.

  • Some Elders will pass the pipe around only to be held and prayed to, others will pass it around for each person to smoke (you don't have to smoke the pipe even if everyone else is, you can simple hold it and pass it along).

• There will be 4 rounds, between each round...

  • The door will open, allowing cool air to come in

    • This is a time when you can step out of the lodge if you need a break, crawling out clockwise, the same way you come in.

  • Before each new round starts, more stones will be brought in

During the round:

• Water will be poured on the hot stones making steam. How hot it is will vary. Hotter rounds will typically go faster.

• When it gets hot...

  • If it gets too hot, get low, the ground stays cooler than the air. You can lay down (face/belly down) and put your forehead on the ground (yes, it can get squishy when everyone starts laying down).

  • Keep breathing through your nose.

  • Keep in mind why you're here.

• Each round will acknowledge a different direction, you will be invited to pray for each direction.

  • The Elder may go slow, inviting each person to pray, either out loud or to themselves, in a clockwise rotation. Each person will say "All my relations", "Msit No’kmaq", etc. when they are done to signal that it is the next persons turn to go.

  • They may also go faster, inviting everyone to pray all together either speaking aloud or praying silently all at the same time, still saying "All my relations", "Msit No’kmaq", etc. so they know when everyone is done.

Closing out the sweat:

• When the rounds are completed, berries and tea are typically passed around.

• When it's time to get out, women typically leave first, moving around the pit in a clockwise direction.

• After the sweat, it's common to feast.

There is so much more to know and learn about the sweat lodge ceremony, but I hope that these basics will help you feel more comfortable and prepared for your first sweat!

All my relations,

Ryan <3