Brian Frejo leads the Community Sweatlodge and Sarina DiMaso hosts the AIHSC Culture Program’s Community Sweat Lodge.

Each tribe has its own sweatlodge ceremonial origin story. The ceremony, conducted for purification, cleansing, renewal, healing and prayer, can be shared with individuals and groups. It is a strength and spiritual-based holistic approach to healing and wellness in a community setting. Brian Frejo leads the sweat ceremonies with guidance, education about the procedures of a sweat, and sings with drum to lead the ceremony and sweat.

Initial Sweatlodge Build and Ceremony

Brian Frejo and Sarina DiMaso led the build between August 17th and August 19th in 2022. Teammates cut, sheathed, and transported willows to the site offered by Sarina at her home near the banks of the Kankakee River. Willows were shaped into the circular sweatlodge frame. We dug a fire pit, laid down a firewall, chopped blocks of wood, and laid down grandfather stones for the sweat fire. The framework and cloaking of the sweatlodge went well as we tied willows, fashioned a door portal, and covered the sweatlodge with tarps to form a great final sweatlodge.

Please text Sarina DiMaso for location

Sweatlodges held in Wilmington, IL 60481. Please text Sarina DiMaso at 872-801-1257 for location. More info: Brian Frejo at bfrejo@aihschgo.org or Sarina DiMaso at sdimaso@aihschgo.org.