Honor Sacred Tobacco
Tobacco is the first plant that the Creator gave to Native people. It is the main activator of all the plant spirits. Three other plants, sage, cedar and sweetgrass, follow tobacco and together they are referred to as the four sacred medicines.
The four sacred medicines are used in everyday life and ceremonies. All of them can be used to smudge with; though sage, cedar and sweetgrass may have many other uses.
It is said that tobacco sits in the eastern door, sweetgrass in the southern door, sage in the west and cedar in the north. Elders say that the spirits like the aroma produced when we burn tobacco and the other sacred medicines.
Traditional Tobacco
Written by Josh DePerry – MAKWA Peer Leader
Did You Know?
Aboriginal people accept tobacco as a gift of life
Tobacco is used to heal sickness
When used in a “Sacred Pipe” tobacco is not inhaled
Traditional tobacco is used in the sweat lodge as an offering/medicine
Traditional tobacco is not harmful if used properly
Other uses of traditional tobacco are offering to Creator
Tobacco is offered to the spirits of the animal for food when hunted
Who is MAKWA?
"Makwa" means Bear in the Ojibway language - “The protector" of the clans.
MAKWA (Making Aboriginal Kids Walk Away from tobacco abuse) is a group of peer leaders with the Youth Action Alliance, at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. MAKWA is available to coordinate workshops and events to educate youth on the abuse of tobacco, but also to restore the pride and culture in the traditional role of tobacco and Aboriginal people.
We are already actively involved in several community initiatives and have established several partnerships with existing community resources. Together we take a positive approach in restoring culture and education in hopes of decreasing the mortality rates of Aboriginal people and cancer, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. MAKWA Peer Leaders use a holistic approach, incorporating fun and innovative techniques when delivering their education sessions.
For more information or to book presentations please contact:
Aileen Malcolm, Youth Advisor
Thunder Bay District Health Unit
999 Balmoral St.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6E7
807-625-8322
aileen.malcolm@tbdhu.com