Building an Inipi Sweat Lodge

We partnered with the founders of Sacred Walk Initiative, Luke Mulvaugh and Matlynn Snodgrass to build an Inipi Sweat Lodge on the property. Taylor spent a weekend with Luke and Matlynn building the sweat lodge and fire pit that can fit 12 people.  It is built out of willows from the Yellowstone River, wool blankets, and canvas tarps. When the construction was finished Luke facilitated a powerful therapeutic sweat ceremony focused on healing and empowerment. 

 Luke brings over 20 years of experience in social work, healing, and ceremony. He holds a Masters in Native American Studies, has taught at Montana State University, developed therapeutic nature-based programs for youth, and facilitated healing programs for addiction recovery, combat veterans and severe trauma survivors. For nearly two decades, he’s been a Sundance Ceremony singer and student of traditional Lakota and Dakota ways, learning from elders on the Cheyenne River Reservation and in Montana. He also studied herbal medicine with Coast Salish elder Jerry Sparrow and apprenticed with Jay Vest, a Monacan teacher of the Sacred Pipe and Sweat Lodge traditions.  

Luke was told to run a sweat lodge by a Lakota medicine man and Sundance Chief from the Cheyenne River Reservation. At first,he was afraid of this great responsibility and did not follow through. After several weeks of procrastinating, his house was struck by lightning, and he built the sweat the very next day. He has been running Inipi ceremonies ever since. We look forward to having Luke facilitate future sweat ceremonies for retreat participants.