A "symbol of healing between Indigenous people and the church." Grandfather Rock, sweat lodge unveiled at Archdiocese of St. Boniface

After smudging and a prayer for the Creator’s blessing, a grandfather rock and symbolic sweat lodge were unveiled Friday on the grounds of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface bishop’s residence.

The 1.5-metre-tall M’shoomis Asin, or grandfather rock, was donated to the archdiocese by a parishioner five years ago. The symbolic sweat lodge was welded by students at Murdoch MacKay Collegiate.

Also unveiled at the ceremony was a panel about sweat lodges and grandfather rocks, which Indigenous people believe are sacred because they contain generational knowledge and a spirit. 

A panel with information about the grandfather rock appears in English, French, Lakota and Ojibwe. A second panel, in English and French, describes the role of sweat lodges in Indigenous tradition and culture.

 

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Photo above: Elder Clayton Sandy and Archbishop Albert LeGatt stand in front of the Grandfather Rock and symbolic sweat lodge.