Smudging and HVAC

Helping a school board engage its Indigenous community

The story

Today’s school systems need to be inclusive, culturally empowering, and forward-looking. 

In Eastern Ontario, a school board is taking that role seriously. Guided by an action plan, and with the council of Indigenous partners, it’s putting resources and infrastructure in place to help Indigenous students see themselves reflected in their learning. 

Smudging and HVAC

Helping a school board engage its Indigenous community

The story

Today’s school systems need to be inclusive, culturally empowering, and forward-looking. 

Some of these schools have started facilitating smudging ceremonies.

Smudging is a spiritual practice customary to many First Nations and Métis people in Canada, where sacred medicines are burned for prayer, purification, or healing purposes.

While outdoor smudging is common, it’s also done inside for various reasons, like to cleanse a space before a meeting or event.

In the case of these schools, smudging often takes place in cultural spaces designed to promote the First Nations and Métis experience. Previously, the schools faced challenges with indoor smudging: the smoke could set off fire alarms and displace the entire school; it could also spread into nearby classrooms or corridors and affect individuals with sensitivities.

The schools needed a solution that not only benefited the First Nations and Métis learners in the board but that respected everyone’s needs and fostered intercultural understanding and appreciation.

The school board turned to Envari Energy Solutions, a partner it had engaged for a previous ventilation project. Collaborating with the schools’ Indigenous Education Coordinator, Envari designed and implemented new ventilation systems that manage the smoke without disrupting the ceremonies.

These ventilation systems are tailored for each school, but the key is that they coordinate with the schools’ existing ventilation systems, isolate airflow from adjacent spaces, and draw the rooms to a negative pressure, which more effectively contains and evacuates the smoke.

With the push of a button, the systems remove the smoke both naturally and quietly. It’s important that the smoke isn’t evacuated too quickly, which could hinder a ceremony, and that the systems don’t audibly overpower any Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Senators leading a smudge.

Another benefit is that the systems are easy to fine tune. The variable-speed fans can speed up or slow down, and the duration the systems run can increase or decrease, all controlled through a building automation system. It’s important to have this flexibility since smudging ceremonies can differ based on group sizes, methods, intent, and other factors. The schools need wiggle room to see which settings work best. Additionally, as we look ahead, these systems can be programmed to synchronize with the lighting of the Qulliq, further enhancing the ceremonial experience. 

With the push of a button, the systems remove the smoke both naturally and quietly. It’s important that the smoke isn’t evacuated too quickly, which could hinder a ceremony, and that the systems don’t audibly overpower any Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Senators leading a smudge.

At the end of the day, this type of project demonstrates a commitment to promoting Indigenous knowledge, practices, and beliefs. It’s an important step in working toward reconciliation.

Not only does it cultivate confidence in identity among First Nations and Métis students, but it can help all students build their capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect, as listed under Action #63 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. 

Let’s continue to make space for Indigenous students to connect to their culture. If that involves modifying an existing building system, we’re eager to listen, learn, and help where we can.

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Smudging and HVAC

Helping a school board engage its Indigenous community

Smudging and HVAC

Helping a school board engage its Indigenous community

Smudging is a spiritual practice customary to many First Nations and Métis people in Canada, where sacred medicines are burned for prayer, purification, or healing purposes.

The schools needed a solution that not only benefited the First Nations and Métis learners in the board but that respected everyone’s needs and fostered intercultural understanding and appreciation.

With the push of a button, the systems remove the smoke both naturally and quietly. It’s important that the smoke isn’t evacuated too quickly, which could hinder a ceremony, and that the systems don’t audibly overpower any Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Senators leading a smudge.

With the push of a button, the systems remove the smoke both naturally and quietly. It’s important that the smoke isn’t evacuated too quickly, which could hinder a ceremony, and that the systems don’t audibly overpower any Elders, Knowledge Keepers, or Senators leading a smudge.

At the end of the day, this type of project demonstrates a commitment to promoting Indigenous knowledge, practices, and beliefs. It’s an important step in working toward reconciliation.

Let’s continue to make space for Indigenous students to connect to their culture. If that involves modifying an existing building system, we’re eager to listen, learn, and help where we can.

Have questions about your building’s ventilation?

Browse similar stories:

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