Buffalo Gals member disturbed by church ban on smudging
Members of an indigenous drum group are upset over not being allowed to perform at a Winnipeg benefit on the weekend.
Buffalo Gals drum group was set to perform at Mennonite Central Committee's 50th annual concert. But the event was postponed because Immanuel Pentecostal Church would not allow smudging on its property.
- OPINION | In defence of Immanuel Pentecostal Church's stance on smudging
"For us as a Christian church, [smudging] would be in violation of our core values as a Christian assembly," Scott Bullerwell, lead pastor at Immanuel Pentecostal Church, told CBC News on Sunday, in response to the controversy.
He maintained that there is tension between native spirituality and Christianity, and he expects it will be like that for some time.
"While we respect native spirituality, and the rights of folks to practise within their culture, it would be inappropriate to confuse it with Christianity, because there's little affinity between native spirituality and Christianity," he said.
Buffalo Gals group member Val Vint said the smudging would have been done behind closed doors.
"It wouldn't have been on display. It certainly was not part of the performance in any way. It's a ceremony that we do to prepare ourselves," she said.
"It was pretty disturbing that this could still happen in 2014, on Treaty One territory."
Bullerwell said the Mennonite Central Committee entered into a contractual agreement with the church to use its facilities for their event, and it knew smudging would not be permitted beforehand.
'An avoidable situation,' says MCC director
Ron Janzen, executive director of the Mennonite Central Committee in Manitoba, says his organization knew of the restriction in the contract but assumed it would be OK to smudge outside the facility.
"Certainly an avoidable situation. I truly wish we had discussed specifically smudging many months ago," Janzen said.
The MCC is now working on rescheduling its anniversary celebration.
Meanwhile, Janzen said he recognizes the rift that the situation has created between the aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities, and he realizes that Immanuel Pentecostal Church is taking the heat.
"We do need to take responsibility for that. It's the opposite outcome of what we wanted," he said.
The groups need to find ways to work things out despite their differences says Rev. Bob Gilbert of Augustine United Church in Winnipeg.
Gilbert says aboriginal customs, including smudging, have become part of his church. Members even hold a special service recognizing the summer solstice, he added.
"It's a connection with God, however your relationship with God might be. For me, personally, I found it a very spiritual, holy experience," he said.
"I think the more churches that introduce those kinds of things into their own worship, I think the more blessed they'll find themselves."
As for Vint, she is calling for a traditional circle with members of the MCC and the Immanuel Pentecostal Church in the hopes of working things out.
