A Sacred Journey

Being with Aboriginal peoples and learning their traditions and beliefs makes me more aware of my own spirituality and gifts

By Anie Montejo
May 2007

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Living in Canada has brought a lot of surprises, new experiences and learning that have helped to deepen my faith. Being with Aboriginal people, learning their culture, traditions, practices and beliefs makes me more aware of my own spirituality and gifts.

Anie Montejo with Wendy, a First Nations woman from Vancouver at a pilgrimage in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. Every year 30,000 Aboriginal people from Canada and the United States gather in Lac Ste. Anne to honour St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, as the patron saint of the ancestors.

Anie Montejo with Wendy, a First Nations woman from Vancouver at a pilgrimage in Lac Ste. Anne, Alberta. Every year 30,000 Aboriginal people from Canada and the United States gather in Lac Ste. Anne to honour St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, as the patron saint of the ancestors.

In my first experience of the Sweat Lodge ceremony, participants took part in four rounds of prayers and chanting inside a tent heated with hot rocks. At the first round, I was not able to stay in the darkness and hat of the lodge for very long. Instead of joining in for the second round, I chose to stay outside and reflect on what I had experienced inside the tent. I realized that I had brought to this ceremony my own baggage - biases, doubts, anxieties, fears and confusion.

I thought about the long tradition of the Sweat Lodge, which has helped Aboriginal peoples to build trust in each other and to live happy and contented lives within the community and in harmony with creation. If they can go through the ceremony, I wondered, why can't I? Why should I not take up the challenge?

After this time of reflection, I decided to finish the remaining rounds of the ceremony. The experience of sweating made me feel "lighter" and able to let go of my "baggage".

The people were highly accepting of my presence at the Sweat Lodge and my desire to share my time with the community. By attending the native liturgy at St. Ann's parish in Toronto I am able to continue my sacred journey with Aboriginal people.

Anie Montejo, originally from Mindanao, Philippines is presently discerning her vocation with Our Lady's Missionaries.

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