Honouring tradition: The sacred meaning of medicine pouches

Posted on Monday, June 23rd, 2025

Medicine pouches have meaning in many Indigenous cultures. The medicine pouches hold sacred objects and traditional medicines. Each one is unique, often filled with items, like precious stones, or cultural objects that hold personal significance. They serve to stay connected to the spiritual world, honour ancestors, and carry blessings.

Medicine pouches are very spiritual and connect the wearer to land, water and air. In some instances, smaller versions are worn close to the body containing unique mementos and medicines.

To mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, Algonquin College hosted three medicine bag workshops for students, employees and DARE6 partners.

On June 12, 2025, the Algonquin Students’ Association and Mamidosewin Centre hosted a workshop to make medicine pouches for learners. This workshop was held in the AC Hub and led by Jenny Tenasco, who provided information about the four types of medicines placed in the pouches – sage, cedar, sweet grass and tobacco. Stephanie Tenasco shared technical information regarding how to decorate the pouches with beads and sew leather and felt materials. Twelve people participated in the workshop.

On June 23, Marc Forgette of Makatew, led an interactive session around the significance of the medicine bag. Over 60 employees attended the event to explore Indigenous traditions, cultural teachings and create their own medicine pouch. Forgette shared the meaning behind the medicine wheel and ways to support and advance reconciliation.

Later that afternoon, as part of the college’s DARE6 initiative, 23 representatives from Nokia and PCL were on campus on for an Indigenous awareness workshop, led again by Makatew. Attendees create leather pouches while learning about its significance and importance in Indigenous culture.

Visit this website to learn more about National Indigenous Peoples Day.


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