By Seth Forward Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A very special feature of the All Native Basketball Tournament was a sacred fire, with guests able to receive traditional healing and medicine from the week-long ceremony. The long-burning fire was held just outside of the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre as the tournament went on inside. Organizers emphasized it was much more than just wood burning. The sacred fire is described as a practice of Ayaawk (ancestral matriarchal law) and a merging of two houses, something organizer and medicine woman Guu Gaa Jung 1/8symbia barnaby 3/8 said was “historic and unheard of.” Dii too’otxw graham abel who is Gitxsan and Ojibway and Guu Gaa Jung who is of Haida and Mi’kmaq descent, helped organize the MMIWG2S pole raising near Port Edward in October…
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