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This article was published 15/11/2014 (2136 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SUBMITTED Immanuel Pentecostal Church

THE Mennonite Central Committee cancelled its biggest event of the year, a benefit concert planned for Saturday evening, over an ideological objection to an indigenous smudging ceremony.

The North End Women's Centre drum group Buffalo Gals had expected to hold the ceremony prior to singing a sacred drum song at the concert.

"The most straightforward explanation I can give is to say the church regarded the practice of smudging as a violation of their rental agreement with us," said MCC executive director Ron Janzen.

The concert had been planned for months to be held at the massive facility owned by the Immanuel Pentecostal Church on Wilkes Avenue.

"Thursday, they told us we couldn't have smudging anywhere on the property. We'd rented the facility months ago, and we assumed because of building and fire code restrictions that we'd have to do the smudging outside, just at the entrance."

Smudging involves the burning of sage or sweet grass, where participants wave the smoke over their heads in a cleansing ritual. It is a common indigenous practice, usually done before any sacred activity is performed.

Plans changed after a series of discussions last week in the lead-up to the event.

"To our surprise, they told us we couldn't have smudging in the building and nowhere on the property. It was not in line with their beliefs or practices," Janzen said.

Former prime minister Joe Clark was supposed to make an appearance at the concert. He has agreed to make himself available when it is rescheduled, Janzen said.

The MCC held an emergency meeting Saturday and intends to hold the benefit concert, planned as a celebration for the Christian aid organization's 50th anniversary, later in the year.

"Possibly this summer," Janzen said.

-- staff