Sauga 50-for-50: Lighting the Sacred Fire with Mark Sault

Heritage Bytes

What makes a Sacred Fire?

A Sacred Fire is sacred because it is used as an Anishinabe traditional wellness approach. A Sacred Fire is an important part of Anishinabe spirituality, communication with the spirit realm, and our ancestors. It is a sacred practice meant to make individuals feel open, grounded, and connected with people on Earth, and those that have moved on.

As a member of the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation, Mark learned many of his teachings from respected Elders of North Western Ontario while working in Thunder Bay with the Seven Generations Education Institute from 1990 to 2014. He retired in 2014 and returned to his home territory of Mississauga of the Credit where he was born and raised. He has gathered and studied some of the local plants and trees that are used to make herbal teas that help with many of the health problems that plague our population. He shares his knowledge of plants, harvesting and the holistic uses of sacred medicines. Some of the are teachings are with the process of preparing wild rice from the plant to dish, lying white Indian corn, making bannock and some jams.

We acknowledge that the land on which we meet today is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We recognize the importance of this land and pay our respects to the Anishinaabe and other First Nations, Métis and Inuit past, present and future.

To stay up to date with Mississauga's 50th Anniversary celebrations, follow Heritage Mississauga on social media @heritagemississauga and also follow #Sauga50for50 to stay up to date with new upcoming podcast episodes.

Music: Cojonudo by Esteban Maxera Cuarteto