Jackie Traverse: "Sweet grass is a gift from Mother Earth. It is said to be part
of her hair and the use of sweet grass promotes strength and kindness. When
braiding sweet grass each strand of the braid represents mind, body and spirit.
It is also important to remember the teaching of the sweet grass braid and walk
that way when wearing a braid in our own hair."
Smudging: "The aroma of burning sweet grass has a calming effect and thus
promotes kind thoughts. When smudging with sweet grass it is important to honour
the hair of mother earth by smudging our own hair with the smoke."
Prayer and Ceremony: "Since sweet grass promotes strength and kindness it
is often used in healing circles and during ceremony to allow positive energy,
kind thoughts and kind feelings to surface through any pain and
suffering.
Courtesy of Anishinaabe Bimaadiziwin an Ojibwe people's resource: "My Mother
Earth is under the ground surrounded by rocks also known as the grandfathers her
hair is growing through the surface in for of sweet grass and is medicine and a
gift for the people. Take what you need only before picking sweetgrass offer
Mother Earth Tobacco in appreciation for the gifts she gives to us all."
Source: Wall-to-Wall Mural Festival notes
