Why is smoke harmful?

< Return to Main

Indigenous Peoples use fire and smoke in ceremonies, such as sweat lodges, where heat promotes healing and mental well-being. Fire also plays a vital role in land management, helping to renew ecosystems and maintain balance.

However, smoke from wildfires and wood burning can pose serious health risks, especially for Elders, young children, pregnant people, and those with heart or lung conditions. During heavy smoke conditions, everyone is at risk regardless of their age or health.

There are two main types of smoke exposure:

• Wildfire smoke occurs in summer when trees, grass, and vegetation burn.

• Woodburning smoke comes from indoor heating sources and is often used in winter.

Understanding these risks and reducing exposure is key to protecting community well-being.

Smoke exposure can affect breathing, mental well-being, housing conditions, and access to the land. The medicine wheel teaches us that health and well-being are interconnected and that smoke can impact physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

• Physical: Headaches, fatigue and coughs

• Mental: Stress, anxiety

• Emotional: Uncertainty of safety conditions

• Spiritual: Displacement from traditional territories

Protecting yourself from smoky conditions can reduce health risks, which can range from mild to severe. Some symptoms or health effects are more common than others.