David Fineday, a Saskatoon man and survivor of the Sixties Scoop, spent four days smudging and praying in freezing conditions to raise awareness about homelessness and support those without shelter. He set up a temporary encampment across from Station 20 West, using a 96-hour smudging permit granted by the City of Saskatoon. The space, which could accommodate up to 12 people, was used for smudging, prayer, warmth, food, and rest. Fineday, who was once homeless, says he is motivated by the loss of several friends to homelessness last year and his own experiences with trauma.
Despite the city’s support for the smudging ceremony, the encampment was not authorized, and Fineday was told to dismantle the shelter once the permit expired. The Saskatoon Fire Department confirmed that the “weather shield” built to protect from extreme weather must be removed unless it meets safety standards and has the necessary permits. The property owner also clarified that they were not permitting encampments on the site.
Fineday, who has been leading smudging ceremonies with his group, Smudge On, for four years, called for more Indigenous-led shelters to reconnect people to their spirituality and cultural practices. He expressed frustration that more is not being done to address homelessness, especially in Indigenous communities. Fineday said he would comply with the city’s request to remove the encampment but emphasized that without it, people would be left without shelter.
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