Health and spirit unite at Sage Clan smudging event

By Lethbridge Herald on October 29, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Sage Clan’s mandate is to bring both the homeless and housed people of Lethbridge and their latest event was proof of the sense of community they are promoting.

On Monday evening, in collaboration with Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, assistant dean of Indigenous Health at the Cummings School of Medicine at the University of Calgary, and members of her team, Sage Clan hosted an educational event on smudging protocols and dealing with mental health.

Abbe Pawluk, communications manager for Sage Clan says the evening was about building bridges while also offering tools to better understand each other.

“This event helps bring people together, celebrate Blackfoot culture, understand what smudging is, the cultural practices and the spiritual significance…and then on top of it, we paired it with mental health training so the people in the homeless community or housed people in Lethbridge know how to deal with mental health crises.”

Adrian Santer, a board member of Birchbark Health, a non-profit organization which partners with other organizations to improve outcomes for Indigenous communities, says a bridge needs to be built between evidence based practices and traditional medicine-especially for Indigenous community.

Over a dozen people from all walks of life attended the event, which Santer says really speaks to the value of embracing traditional healing methods.

“Our health care system, society, our community is much stronger when we work together and when we work together and when we embrace each other’s diversity and support one another.”

Because hospitals are such sterile environments and many Indigenous people, especially residential school survivors, can feel very isolated during hospital stays.

Santer says having elements of Indigenous culture available to them, such as Elders, smudging kits and other traditional medicines and herbs, can help individuals not feel isolated.

“It’s very important to be able to have that element of their community and culture brought into the hospital, in a very cohesive manner, so they’re not feeling isolated from their community.”

The Sage Clan also participated in first aide training from Birchbark health and Pawluk says it’s been a great experience working with Birchbox and proves what working together can accomplish.

“That’s what community is, right? You collaborate resources and it all works out.”

Sage Clan does evening patrols a few times per week, providing resources for those experiencing homeless such as a meals, warm clothing and information on recovery if the person requests it.

They are also creating a group called Sage Sisters, where women can meat and work on art projects once a week as a way to decompress but also help others feel a sense of belonging and womanhood.

More information on the Sage Clan and upcoming events can be found on their Facebook page.