Evacuees participate in ceremony to brush off their burdens

Jul 11, 2017 | 11:30 AM

KAMLOOPS — While the physical needs of wildfire evacuees are being looked after by the Evacuation Reception Centre, the Tk’emlup te Secwepemc is trying to provide for peoples’ emotional and spiritual needs. 

A water ceremony was held at the centre Tuesday morning. Displaced residents were encouraged to take part by ‘brushing off’ some of their heavy emotions. 

David Archie with the Secwepemc Health Caucus believes it’s important to offer heavy burdens to a higher power. 

“Today we’re going to do a water ceremony for all of the evacuees from all of the different communities, and the people in our communities as well, to show that support and provide an opportunity for them to brush off, to take all of the heavy emotions that they’re dealing with and just hand it over to a higher place, and to provide that opportunity for them to lighten their load, and be more present in the situation that’s going on right now.”