Growing up along the banks of where the Bow River and the Highwood River meet was a landscape of native, wild grasses and history. It was also a sacred space on witch with an original Native American Healing/ Marriage tree was located along the river shore and high on the hill top was once a buffalo jump. 
Every spring the rains and snow melt would wash away a layer of soil to expose a small amount of buffalo bone artifacts and even the odd arrowhead could be found if you looked long and hard enough. 
Generations of our family enjoyed this time together and always looked forward to the adventures we called "looking for buffalo bones". 
During this time we also often picked wild flowers, sage, native grasses. We were told of how these have been and could be used in healing and clearing of negative energy but at the time of being kids we just thought they were pretty and made a beautiful bouquet. 
So many hours of our childhood were spent wondering around this untouched pasture of hills, valleys and rivers and was only inhibited by the occasional cow. 
** Photos** 1. The original homestead photographed around 1927 that was located on one of several river flats. 
2. Part of the river flats that remain much the same. Photo taken around 50 years ago

Today we are going back to our roots and taking the opportunity to harvest and grow native as well as domestic ingredients to make up or handmade intention smudge stick. Each one includes a base of native wild white sage. Then each different kind has the healing elements that enhance and attract the specific purpose of that intention. CLARITY  - Also includes citrus elements, cedar, cinnamon, juniperLOVE - Also includes wild rose, cedar, rosemarySTRENGTH - Also includes peppermint, spearmint, mint, tri-color sageSERANITY - Also includes lavender, lilac, prairie alfalfa, purple sageAll ingredients are harvested off native land or grown locally on our farm west of Olds, AB or along the banks of the Bow River near the original homestead the only the exception is BC grown oranges and cinnamon. 
** Photo 3*** A photo of the actual medicine / marriage tree that still stands today along the banks of the Highwood River. I would like to think that maybe over the decades of it's presence in our lives, some of the sacred powers were ingrained in our lives.