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7.14 Indigenous Use of Traditional Medicines

7.14 Indigenous Use of Traditional Medicines

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This online version is for convenience; the official version of this policy is housed in the University Secretariat. In case of discrepancy between the online version and the official version held by the Secretariat, the official version shall prevail.

Approving Authority: President

Original Approval Date: July, 2003

Date of Most Recent Review/Revision: Febrary 12, 2026

Office of Accountability: Vice-President: Finance and Administration

Administrative Responsibility: Safety, Health, Environment and Risk Management

1.00 Purpose

1.01 The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicine is performed in the safest possible manner, and in compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including the right to equal treatment and freedom from discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

2.00 Definitions

2.01 Fire Department: Any fire department with jurisdiction over the responding area of any/all University Facilities.

2.02 Member(s) of the University Community: Persons who currently work or study (in person or online) on any Laurier campus. Members include students (including student groups), employees, adjunct and visiting faculty, and volunteers at Laurier. For the sake of this policy, this will also extend to contractors.

2.03 Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines: a spiritual ceremony using sacred medicines such as sweet grass, sage, cedar or tobacco for spiritual purposes. It involves an open flame burning process that creates a relatively small amount of smoke and emits a noticeable aroma.

2.04 Traditional Use of Burning Tobacco: tobacco used for ceremonies, prayers and rituals for spiritual significance and meaning.

2.05 University Facility/Facilities: All buildings and grounds, owned, leased or operated by the University, including without limitation outdoor playing areas, parking, athletic and recreational fields and all University residences and housing.

3.00 Jurisdiction/Scope

3.01 This policy applies to all University Facilities and Members of the University Community.

3.02 The Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines is subject to any lease or rental restrictions.

3.03 The Traditional Use of Burning Tobacco is given special consideration with respect to Policy 7.8 Smoke Free Policy. Provisions for this are, in part, covered under Smoke-Free Ontario Act that recognizes that Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines and Traditional Use of Burning Tobacco for cultural and spiritual purposes are exempt.

3.04 This Policy does not supersede or replace obligations the University has under applicable legislation or by-law, as well as contractual obligations for facilities leased or rented by the University.

4.00 Policy

4.01 Wilfrid Laurier University acknowledges and supports on-campus use of traditional medicines for Indigenous peoples’ culture and spiritual practices. The purpose of this policy is to respect and preserve the cultural significance of maintaining traditional ceremonies and to do so in harmony with established University smoke free and fire policies.

4.02 Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines policy should be used in conjunction with the 7.12 Open Flames on Campus Policy.

4.03 The location where the Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines are planned must be approved by Safety, Health, Environment & Risk Management, Facilities and Asset Management, and Office of Indigenous Initiatives prior to the burning of the medicines by completing the required Request for Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines Online Request Form at least one week prior to the event, as outlined in Procedures Relating to Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines.

4.04 A review of the location as listed on the form must be completed by SHERM and Facilities and Asset Management, unless otherwise previously reviewed, as per the Procedures Relating to Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicine. This review is required to identify any safety measures that need to be applied for the safe practicing of Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines.

4.05 Select spaces are exempt from the requirement to submit a request form as outlined in the Procedures Relating to Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicine.

4.06 All associated procedures outlined in conjunction with this policy must be adhered to. Failure to comply with this policy or its accompanying procedures, resulting in a fine from the Fire Department for activation of the building fire alarm system, may result in associated charges being applied to those who failed to complete the Request for Burning of Indigenous Traditional Medicines on Campus form under this policy.

Relevant Legislation

Note: If any of these legal provisions are modified, abrogated, superseded, or added to, the policy will be interpreted in accordance with the new legal framework.

Related Policies, Procedures and Documents

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