Your neighbour grew what in their yard for ceremony?
Alright, you gotta hear about this one. So, I'm scrolling through the local feeds this morning, sipping my coffee, and I stumble on something that just made me stop. Picture this: Julietta Sorensen Kass, a Métis woman from our own northwest, decides to grow a crop of tobacco in her backyard. Now, for many of us, that's kinda weird, right? But she wasn't growing it for smoking. She was growing it for prayers and ceremonies, and then she *gave it all away*. For real though, this isn't just a quirky garden story; it's a profound act of community and cultural sharing right here in our city.
### More Than Just a Plant
This really speaks to the heart of what makes Calgary, Calgary. We're a city that often gets pigeonholed as just the oil patch, all concrete and glass towers, but there's a deep, vibrant undercurrent of Indigenous culture and community that's been here long before the first rig went up. Julietta’s story is a beautiful example of bridging that gap. She grew something sacred, shared it freely for traditional uses, and the response was huge – people from all over reaching out. It's a reminder that even in our bustling city, from the Bow River pathways to the Kensington shops, there are quiet acts of connection happening that build stronger ties and celebrate our roots. It's about recognizing what truly nourishes a community, and sometimes, it's not about the next big development, but a simple offering from a backyard in the 'burbs.
This is Calgary — we've seen the boom, we've seen the bust, and we showed up anyway.
Cassidy Redcloud, MiTL Sports Desk, Calgary.
You know, Keith and the crew are probably gonna have a field day with this one – catch their hot takes every morning at mornings.live.