Parks Canada no longer charging for sweat lodge ceremony at Lower Fort Garry

After numerous complaints from the Indigenous community in Manitoba and across the country, Parks Canada is no longer charging for a sweat lodge ceremony offered at Lower Fort Garry this summer.

Parks Canada posted the event on its Facebook page on May 20, advertising it was offering the ceremony at a price was $59.50 per person.

On Wednesday afternoon, Parks Canada emailed Global News saying it has since made the ceremony free.

“This pilot project was never a revenue-generating activity. The fee was only intended to cover the costs associated with planning and delivering the program. However, Parks Canada recognizes that this is may have been inappropriate. We have re-evaluated this element of the program and will be now offering it at no cost,” Parks Canada said in a statement.

A sweat lodge is a traditional purification ceremony that has its roots in Indigenous history culture. The ceremony is done in a round building made of willows tied together – representing the womb of mother earth. People usually tend to these ceremonies to seek healing and guidance.

Kevin Hart, the Manitoba regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations said it’s not typical to charge anyone for the ceremony. Usually someone will offer tobacco or cloth in order to partake in it, he said. Because of this he’s been flooded with complaints from his community.

“Elders and First Nation leaders are disappointed in the fact that it’s being advertised on social media, and charging people for such a sacred ceremony,” said Hart.

Before Parks Canada changed the fee, dozens of people have reacted to it over social media.