The WISC Ceremonial Fire Ground is a beautiful space near the United College green and Laurel Creek. It was was created with specific ceremonial intention and in close consultation with past United faculty, WISC staff, Brian Roth, architects, and guided by Indigenous Fire & Knowledge Keeper, Al MacDonald of Kitchener.
We ask the students, staff, and faculty to please respect these fire grounds as a sacred space for Indigenous ceremonial-use only. Al Macdonald is the Indigenous Fire & Knowledge Keeper for these fire grounds. The Ceremonial Fire Grounds (including fire pit) is not open for non-ceremonial fires and it is not intended for non-Indigenous people to use freely.
Classes and groups may request to book the space for culturally appropriate and safe learning opportunities, though each and every request is vetted by WISC staff for approval of use. WISC encourages Indigenous students to use the space for ceremonial purpose, quiet contemplation, or other appropriate reasons, but we ask that WISC staff are made aware of your intended use(s).
The space contains a fire pit with turtle mosaic, white gravel, and large stones for sitting. The space is shaped as a medicine wheel with a turtle in the centre for the ceremonial fire to sit upon. In many Indigenous cultures, fire honours the spirit of the ancestors.
There are also four medicine garden boxes for growing traditional medicines and a shed with beautiful artwork painted by Astehtsi̲' Otsistóhkwaˀ (Morningstar) Jewell – you can find more of her amazing work here: https://morningstardesigns.ca
The medicine garden contains herbs and other plants – such as sage, cedar, sweetgrass, tobacco, and strawberries – traditionally used for ceremonies, medicinal, and blessing purposes.