When Ken died in February 2021, we had an outpouring of messages from readers, with many telling us how much his columns meant to them. In light of that, we thought we would go back through our files and re-publish some of them. Ken would be flattered by the kind words readers expressed. We miss him as a friend and as a storyteller.

“Welcome to the Church of What’s Happening now,” the Elder would say when I entered the site where he was holding a sweat-lodge ceremony. This is a ceremony that goes back thousands of years. I once attended a sweat-lodge ceremony on the same site where Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull had camped. It was a powerful feeling knowing these warriors probably sat on the same boulder I was sitting on.

A sweat-lodge ceremony is for cleansing and purification. The structure is a semi-sphere, much like a six-person tent. It’s made of willows and covered with a tarp and blankets. Inside the sacred lodge people sit in a circle. ln the middle of the circle are rocks which were heated to the point of being red hot. There’s a small opening where people can enter and leave. Once the entrance is closed, it’s pitch black inside. It starts out with the Elder saying a prayer and welcoming everyone. He then splashes water on the rocks, creating an incredible amount of steam. It becomes a test of endurance as more and more water is poured on the rocks and the heat becomes intense. At this point, l’ve seen people panic and try to crawl out of the structure. While the Elder softly sings a song, the people inside pray. It feels like the spirit leaves the body and I become transformed back into the world of my ancestors. lt’s a beautiful ceremony and a great way to start a new beginning.

Completing a sweat-lodge ceremony is like being born again. I once heard the oval shape of the lodge is intended to represent a pregnant woman. Except in this case, the woman is Mother Earth. When the ceremony is finished, the Elder will generally say, “Leave everything behind. All the pain, confusion and any addictions will stay inside the lodge and it will be buried with the rocks.” It really does feel like I’m leaving everything behind when I attend a ceremony – like I can start over. However, it must be done with honesty and integrity. Over a 40-year period, I’ve attended thousands of these ceremonies. When my life is spiralling out of control, the first thing I do is run back to my culture. This is where I feel the most free and this is where I feel like I belong.

These ceremonies are not exclusive to Aboriginal people. I’ve met people at these ceremonies from Japan, Germany, Sweden and many other parts of the world. They come for the personal challenge and a time to heal. Some people will fast before the ceremony. I met a man from Sweden who went without food and water for four days. During every one of those four days, he stood up and danced. I was thinking he should have some strength because it’s going to be a long four days. Just when I thought he was going to fall over, he would lift himself up and start all over. But, in the end, he did it. He and his family were so proud. I thought to myself “who am I to judge?” Even though the sweat-lodge ceremonies are held during the winter, most are held in the summer. I’m going to make every effort to attend as many ceremonies this year as I can.

I also want to participate in other traditions that have been around for many years. I can’t wait to hear that Elder say, “Welcome to the Church of What’s Happening Now.”

-Ken Noskye