17 August 2025
17 August 2025
Jaeden Williams Briggs, founder of Biik Bundjil had the honour of performing a Smoking Ceremony for the 2025 Indigenous Round of the Western Bulldogs, marking the official unveiling of their new jumpers.
A reflection of culture, pride, and deep connection to Country. The jerseys, designed by Kamilya Lowana White, a proud Aboriginal artist, beautifully tells a story of heritage and belonging the threads of past and present woven into the design.
For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have performed Smoking Ceremonies as an ancient cultural practice, a way of cleansing the space, welcoming people onto Country, and ensuring a spiritual balance before gatherings or significant events.
Using native plants and leaves, the smoke wards off bad spirits, cleanses the energy of the space, and brings people together in respect and harmony.
When shared with others, whether that is in sports, schools, workplaces, or community events, a Smoking Ceremony isn’t just a ritual; it’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and connect. It encourages everyone to walk together with awareness of the land beneath their feet and the stories that came before them.
Moments like the Indigenous Round remind us that sport is more than competition, it’s connection and unity too. Across Australia, sporting clubs and communities are embracing Aboriginal culture in new and meaningful ways, from the design of their jumpers to the ceremonies that open their games.
The Smoking Ceremony with the Western Bulldogs was a living exchange, one that grounded the team, honoured the land, and acknowledged the ongoing contribution of First Nations people to Australian sport and society.
As the smoke rose, it carried with it the voices of ancestors, the energy of players, and the shared hope for a future where culture continues to live, breathe, and strengthen every space it touches.
Through Biik Bundjil, Jaeden and his team bring these sacred practices into schools, organisations, and communities across Country, helping people to experience connection in ways that are educational, healing, and deeply human.
From Smoking Ceremonies and Welcome to Country, to workshops, keynote speaking, and cultural walks, Biik Bundjil creates spaces for understanding, reconciliation, and renewal. Each experience is an opportunity to learn, heal, and walk together in respect and unity.
If your organisation, event, or community would like to experience the power of First Peoples culture and ceremony, connect with Biik Bundjil to learn more about upcoming workshops, talks, and programs.
Together, we can continue to build bridges of understanding, respect, and shared purpose.
See the Western Bulldong's Smoking Ceremony video here