TRADITIONAL MEDICINES
TRADITIONAL MEDICINES
We are honoured to offer traditional Indigenous medicines as part of our holistic approach to care. Recognizing the deep cultural significance and healing properties of these medicines, we provide access to a variety of traditional medicines for personal healing and wellness.
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MEDICINES AVAILABLE
Below are the traditional medicines we have available at our clinic.
Asemaa (tobacco)
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Asemaa is the first medicine and how we communicate with Creator and all of Creation. We offer asemaa when we pray, seek guidance, and give thanks. You can sprinkle loose asemaa on the Earth or make an asemaa tie with some cloth that you can offer to a sacred fire. We give asemaa in thanks when harvesting medicines or taking anything from the Earth. When making asemaa ties try to think good, positive thoughts about what you’re doing and what you’re asking for. Hold asemaa in your left hand (closest to your heart) when praying and know that Creation is listening to you. Introduce yourself by saying your name, your clan (if you know it), where you come from, and what your intentions are. You can offer asemaa at any time, but the most powerful times to do it are dawn, noon, and before bed. You can also make an asemaa tie to give to someone when asking for them for support or to share teachings.
Medicine and tea cabinet at the Midland Midwives' clinic.
Giizhik (cedar)
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Giizhik protects, purifies, and cleanses. You can put ghiizik near your doorways and windows to protect your home from negative energy, around your birthing space, or carry it with you in your pockets or shoes. Giizhik baths are an important ceremony for many stages of life, including a baby’s first bath. To prepare a giizhik bath, simply boil the giizhik in water. Think good thoughts while doing this and think about your intentions for the baby and their path in life. Once the water is cooled, strain out the giizhik and leave it outside near a tree and give thanks to the medicine for its help. This can be prepared ahead of time and the water kept refrigerated. For the giizhik bath ceremony, dip a washcloth in the giizhik water and use that to give baby their first bath. Speak your intentions out loud to the baby and invite others to do so as well. The giizhik will help clear a path for the baby to live a good life. Giizhik is included in your bundle but it is easy to harvest your own; if gathering giizhik use your asemaa to give thanks and only take as much as you need. You can also give yourself a giizhik bath if you feel like you need some cleansing and healing, or you can ask a loved one to do the bath.
Wiingashk (sweet grass)
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Wiingashk is the hair of Mother Earth, usually woven in a braid or used in art. Wiingashk is a cleansing and comforting medicine, especially for women. Wiingashk reminds us of how much Mother Earth loves and cares for us; smelling wiingashk can help calm us and fill us with good feelings. Wiingashk braids represent the interconnectedness of Creation, the generations that came before us, and the generations that will come after. You can smudge with wiingashk or hang it in your home and/or birthing space.
Baashkodejiibik (sage)
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Baashkodejiibik is used for cleansing, especially before an important event or ceremony (such as giving birth). Baashkodejiibik is burned and the smoke can clear out negative energies, bring us together, and help us heal. The smoke can also help cleanse a physical space, such as your home or birthing space, or sacred items such as drums and shakers. You can smudge with baashkodejiibik whenever you feel like you need some comfort and healing, or if you’re about to embark on something difficult or challenging. You can smudge while in labour and ask your support people to smudge as well, so that everyone enters the birthing space with good thoughts and positive energy. Your bundle includes a shell and feather to smudge with, or you can use a dish or teacup if using a shell is not in your Teachings. If you’re in the hospital, make sure you tell your midwife if you want to smudge so that arrangements can be made.
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HOW TO ACCESS
The traditional medicines are available to Midland Midwives By the Bay clients who self-identify a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. If you would like to take home some traditional medicines, please speak with a Midwife.
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COST
The medicines are available at no cost.