Menstruation Notification:
If you are someone who menstruates and will be menstruating at the time of the program, you will not be able to participate in the Temazcal ceremony portion because of traditional cultural considerations. However, if this applies to you, you can still attend the trip and we will have alternative activities available for you to participate in during the ceremony. You will be able to participate in all other elements of the program including the values workshop and lunch after the Temazcal ceremony. You will not be asked to disclose if you are menstruating at the time of the program. You can simply excuse yourself prior to the start of the ceremony.
Fasting Notification:
To participate in the Temazcal ceremony, you will need to fast on the morning of the program (June 1st) before and during the ceremony. This means you cannot consume food from sunrise until the end of the Temazcal ceremony. You can consume water beforehand and one time during the ceremony at 10am -12:30pm This is an important part of this traditional Indigenous ceremony. If you are not able to fast for any reason, we ask that you not participate in the Temazcal ceremony to respect this Indigenous cultural tradition, and instead participate in the alternative activity.
We realize these are very unique requirements and may feel exclusionary, however, our community partner, Anahuac Farm, has asked us to uphold these requirements and we are committed to honoring them to respect Indigenous cultural traditions and to maintain a strong relationship with this community partner. If you are not comfortable or able to participate in the sweat lodge experience for any of the reasons listed above or for other reasons, you can still attend the trip and do the alternative activity during the ceremony. If you choose not to participate in the ceremony, you will not be asked to disclose why. Your well-being and comfort are of utmost importance to us, as we strive to offer an inclusive and accessible program that all participants can engage in, while respecting Indigenous cultural traditions. If you have any concerns or need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact our staff at 541-737-7419 or cel@oregonstate.edu.