traditional sweat lodge ceremonies
In Aboriginal culture, the sweat lodge empowers the natural elements of our being with the four elements of water, air, fire, and earth. Each element brings a quality of balance to our lives. As you participate in the ceremony, you are purified with breathing, meditating, and in the sharing of words, prayers, songs, and storytelling.
A lodge ceremony is a gentle and caring approach to the cleansing of your mind, body, and spirit. Through the experience, your body is cleansed of the toxins within your body, which aids in the de-stressing of your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. The non-threatening, non-imposing, and safe environment allows you to seek your greater power.
Welcome BCIT staff and students
The Aboriginal Services department exclusively welcomes BCIT staff and students to join us in our sweat lodge ceremonies. All lodges start at 10:00 AM, and last approximately 2-3 hours.
Future Dates:
- September 13
- October 4
- November 1
- December 6-Please note this sweat has been cancelled
- January 10
- February 7
- March 7
To participate please phone 604-432-8474, to sign up.
Lodge location
The sweat lodge is located at the logger sports field. On the BCIT Burnaby campus map it can be found on grid I48 beside building SE30.
Lodge keeper
Gerry Oleman, a member of the Seton Lake Band in the Stl’atl’imc Nation, is BCIT’s lodge keeper. Gerry has built lodges and hosted lodge ceremonies all over Canada.
Testimonials from BCIT staff
“A wonderful, cleansing experience, it was an opportunity to restore my body, mind and spirit. Verging on a cold when the ceremony started, I felt clear and refreshed afterward. Negativity lifted and my spirit was singing.”
“Thank you for the wonderful sweat lodge experience. I have felt so clear the last couple of days and in touch again with my groundedness and mother earth. The experience was one I'll never forget and I will be back for more.”
“I would like to express the most sincere thank you for the great experience I had on the PD Day's Sweat Lodge Ceremony. The immense gratitude goes to the Lodge keeper Gerry Oleman. He did a great job of making a spiritual ceremony very engaging, while totally faith neutral. The Sweat Lodge Ceremony is the greatest way to have physical, mental, emotional and spiritual relief all at the same time. To describe the experience, one word comes to mind - fantastic!”
“The Sweat Lodge ceremony held on PD Day was my first experience of this event. I found it interesting and cleansing. It was hot! I found Gerry to be a wonderful leader - he explained things so well and seems a very caring and wise person. I left having a better understanding of the Sweat Lodge ceremony.”
“I have participated in several Sweat Lodge ceremonies, and the recent one at BCIT's PD Day was truly enjoyable, as always. The traditional sweat offers every participant the opportunity to cleanse their physical body, have inner reflection and spiritual rejuvenation. Thank you for sharing this customary tradition with all.”
“I just want to say that it was a very moving experience and I appreciated the opportunity to be led through the experience by such a kind and gentle man. Gerry was a wonderful lodge keeper with much wisdom to share with our little group. It was good for the body and the soul!”
“I have always had a deep respect as well as a curiosity for the customs and practices of our aboriginal people and feel very thankful to have had the opportunity to participate in the sweat lodge yesterday. It really was a life-changing experience for me and I came away feeling lighter and less cluttered than I was prior to the ceremony. The sweat lodge ceremony will now be an important part of my ongoing wellness regimen.”
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