"Native American students at the UW-Stevens Point plan to start the new school year with a spiritual practice called “smudging” – the burning of sweet grass, sage, or cedar in an abalone shell, with the smoke waved about with an eagle feather.. They’re celebrating a new policy that allows the once-prohibited ritual on campus.

Rory Griffin is a Menominee tribal member and UW-Stevens Point alum. He says smudging is done by some Indians as a way to purify a space and one’s soul. The practice used to be banned under state fire codes. But Griffin and other native students argued to the UW and fire officials that the federal Religious Freedom Act backed their right to smudge. The University relented and created a smudging policy for students.

Griffin says they’re now allowed to smudge in front and behind the dorms, and residential managers will be notified when this is happening. Also, UWSP is looking into a vacant room near the security offices on campus for students to be able to go to and smudge or perform other ceremonies."

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Native American students at UWSP allowed to perform spiritual cleansing ritual (Wisconsin Public Radio 8/25)