This elder wants you to come to her sweat lodge — just as you are
Ramona Nicholas, elder and sweat lodge keeper for Neqotkuk First Nation, wants ceremony to be inclusive
This is part of a series called Ann's Eye, featuring the work of Ann Paul, a Wolastoqey content creator. You can see more Ann's Eye pieces by clicking here.
For Ramona Nicholas, a sweat lodge ceremony is about healing.
Nicholas, an elder and sweat lodge keeper for Neqotkuk (Tobique) First Nation, knows there can be fear associated with the sweat lodge, but she wants to send a message: come as you are.
"I want to break down that barrier that people have, the fear of the lodge, and thinking that they have to be a certain way to come into that space," she said.
A sweat lodge ceremony involves using fire to heat the stones that are placed inside the lodge building. Water is then used to create steam.
Ann Paul, who recently went to one of Nicholas's sweat lodge ceremonies, said there are no rules governing when a person goes or how many times. It's all about where someone is in their healing journey.
"A sweat lodge is where you go and cleanse yourself. It's almost like a rebirth," said Paul.
Scroll through the photos and watch the video to see more of Nicholas's ceremony.
Ann's Eye
Photographer Ann Paul brings an Indigenous lens to stories from First Nations communities across New Brunswick. Click here or on the image below to see more of her work.
