Its about time: Smudging ceremonies now allowed in all Court of Kings Bench of Alberta

Smudging ceremonies are now part of the process in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta as of July 31. “It’s about damn time,” says Luci Johnson, an Indigenous advocate court worker in Edmonton. “We need things in that courtroom to ease the flow of tragedy of crime. And anything we can do to help the families wholeheartedly, respectfully, and in our Cree culture. “That’s a blessing to us.” Johnson says up until now, she would have had to go before a judge and ask for permission to perform a smudge ceremony. Now, she, a family member, or a lawyer can fill out an online form. “Individuals seeking to schedule a smudging ceremony are asked to please complete the online form no less than seven days in advance, and will receive a reply within 48 hours,” the court’s website says. ‘One less thing for the families to worry about,’ says Indigenous court worker Luci Johnson. Photo: APTN. Johnson says she believes the ceremony will help prevent conflict between families in the court. “When I first heard about it, I called three of our families here in Maskwacis, and I asked them: ‘Would you be interested in speaking in what would have happened if you were to smudge or if you were able to have the feather?’” she says. “No two families will be fighting if there is respect for the eagle feather, or the sweetgrass, or the smudge sitting in the courtroom.” Johnson says removing this barrier benefits families. “One less thing for the families to worry about, because sometimes people don’t understand who we are,” she says. “And the importance of smudging. Whether it’s defence or the offender’s family that needs that extra support.” Continue Reading