Saskatoon temporary smudge location to be taken down

While the City of Saskatoon says it granted a temporary permit for smudging and a ceremonial open fire, that expired at 6p.m. Tuesday night.

David Fineday set up a temporary space for the city’s vulnerable residents to come and take part in smudging ceremonies and warm up near a ceremonial fire. He says dozens of people stopped by each day.

“Every six to eight hours, this place fills up,” said David Fineday. “They smudge, they pray, they go to sleep, they wake up, they’re all gone. So I bring in another batch.”

There are functioning shelters around town, but Fineday says people are avoiding them.

“They don’t like the gong show that happens there,” he said. “People sitting up there, getting high. Coming in there just wasted and bugging everybody. They can’t sleep, they get their stuff stolen from them.”

While the City of Saskatoon says it granted a temporary permit for smudging and a ceremonial open fire, that expired at 6p.m. Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, fire officials attending the site found mattresses on pallets, and the fire had been brought under tarps.

“An order to remove the structure under the Nuisance and Property Maintenance bylaw was issued,” reads a statement from the City of Saskatoon.