Sweat House (Sqilye)
A sweat house is one of the more traditionally used customs in the Secwepemc culture. Each Secwepemc region has their own ceremonial custom. The person who leads the sweat is responsible for the safety of everyone in the lodge. The leader is obligated to know the health conditions of all people entering the sweat and must also respect each participant's needs. If an individual inside the lodge cannot remain inside any longer, the leader has to respect that person's wish and open the door.
There is a long-standing tradition of giving gifts to a medicine person or to someone who is asked to help with a healing sweat.
A sweat house frame was constructed from willow sticks and then shaped into a hemisphere. Earth-covered sweat houses were also traditionally used. Today the sweat house may be covered with canvas, plastic, blankets or rugs. Young fir boughs were placed on the sweat house floor. The sweat house had a central depression in the ground for hot volcanic stones to be placed. These stones were heated in a nearby fire and as each heated stone was brought inside sage or cedar was placed on them. A bucket of water is placed inside; this was used to create steam for the sweat. Cleansing was not just for the body, but of the mind and the spirit. When the ceremony was completed, the bather would wash in the nearby stream.
Secwepemc Sweat House Legend
The Old-One taught the people how to sweat-bathe and make sweat houses. He told them, "When you sweat bathe, pray to Swalu's" (Spirit of the Sweat house). Soon after this, he met Swalu's, and said to him, "My people will make sweat-houses, and, when they sweat-bathe, they will pray to you and ask for relief from pain, health, long life, wisdom, wealth, success in hunting, gambling, and war, listen to them, and carry out their requests. Gather their sickness when they are in the sweat-house, take it from their bodies, and cast it to the winds."
Then Old-One visited the Water, and said to him, "When my children wash and bathe themselves, draw sickness from their bodies, heal their wounds, refresh them; and, when they pray to you, answer their prayer. You shall be the guardian of those who constantly seek you." Old-One also visited the Fir-Tree, and said to him, "When my children take your branches and wash with them, may your mysterious power help them."
For this reason the Secwepemc still use fir branches, bathe in the cold water, and sweat-bathe today.
(Adapted from Teit, The Shuswap)
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