Eh Tea

The Canadian Aboriginal End of Life and Cancer Care Research Network Workshop began today with a potluck meal and a pipe ceremony in the atrium of the First Nations University of Canada. This is the first time I've taken part in a pipe ceremony, very interesting. The last one I observed was looser and the pipe only went around once, when it went out, it was out. Tonight it went around the circle (there were about 20 of us) four times with someone assisting to make sure it was re-lit and so on. The building appears to finally be getting the giant glass tepee from the original design by architect Douglas Cardinal that couldn't be afforded when the building was built a few years ago. A vision.