Sweetgrass:
Sweetgrass is found in certain lush biomes (ones that I think would be well hydrated and support the ecology for sweetgrass to grow) in small patches. These patches grow sweetgrass, but cannot be moved. The patch must be cultivated and slowly spread to nearby grass blocks in order to obtain more 'sweetgrass roots' blocks (which spawn sweetgrass on top of them). Sweetgrass can also grow a second block on top of it, bringing it to its full height (around 1.2-1.5m) and placing a 'sweetgrass flower' on top. This block represents the buds on top of the fully grown plant, and currently serves no purpose (my only plan for it so far is for deer to eat it when I add them).

Sweetgrass can be braided by crafting 3 bundles of 7 blades and using another blade to wrap them up and begin a braid. The braid must be 'used' (right click or other buttons depending on control scheme) three times after that to complete it. Each braid takes the player a significant amount of time, and involves multiple steps. I wanted to simulate learning a craft and instill respect for the process. The name of sweetgrass appears in purple text to signify a rare or valueble item. A braid of sweetgrass so far can only be used for smudging, which will be discussed last. Here is a picture of a sweetgrass patch (also used in the blog title backsplash) and a video demonstrating the braiding process:

Cedar:
For cedar I had to add the entire tree and make it generate in the world. Cedar generates alongside the existing spruce biomes (another coniferous tree) and currently only drops a 'sapling' item that is used for smudging. The logs cannot be crafted into wood or planks, but I plan to add that later (along with growing the saplings). See below a picture:

Tobacco and Sage:
I added tobacco and sage plants that grow on the floor. Tobacco plants spawns in warm biomes right now because I read that its most commonly found in Canada on the sand plains in the prarie provinces. Sage grows in grassy biomes because it is a more variety ground cover type plant from my research. Each appear in small clusters and can be harvested for leaves. 

Using 3 sage or tobacco leaves a player can place a bundle on the bottom of a block (the roof or an overhang) and wait for it to dry. Once the bundle changes color it can be harvested again for dried variants of sage and tobacco leaves. the plants, leaf items, and bundles can be seen on either side of the block showcase photo at the top of the post.

Honorable mentions:
In my ignorance and perseverence while constructing the start of this mod, I had several detours. I was under the impression  that birch bark was an important addition, and so I added it during early development. I also ended up adding chaga mushrooms that grow on birch trees (seen in the block showcase photo at the top on the birch logs) and deerfoot mushrooms. I'm not sure if deerfoot mushrooms is the official name for this plant but that is what I found (deerfoot seen in the block showcase on the sides of the birch logs in the bottom corners). In the process of adding birch bark I also added the bark of all the wood types in vanilla (unmodded) minecraft. I will of course add cedar bark as well in a future version. All barks are obtained by stripping the log with an axe (which is a vanilla (unmodded) feature). A picture demostrating a stripped log and dropped bit of birch bark can be seen below:

Smudging:
During development I ended up setting my goal for first alpha as smudging and the four sacred medicines. I am completing a work term at WLCC and continueing my schooling later this week, and I wanted to get out something for the community before I lose most of my working time.

During my research I found that most smudging bowls are made from abalone shells. So I added the shells to beach biomes, spawning in rare clusters of around three. The shells can be crafted into smudging bowls which have special function for performing the ceremony itself.

The abalone shell and smudge bowl texture and model are some of my favourite works from the art I have included thusfar. Art takes up a lot of time in a project like this, despite having a rather low bar for entry (even an amature hobbyist such as myself has sufficient art skills to make something decent looking). That said I would love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering to redo art I have hastily included (or edit for accuracy) and even collaborate on future blocks, items, and entities (the forest needs animals!). 

The smudge bowl can be loaded with a smudgeable item (currently only the four sacred medicines) and then lit with a flint and steel item (I will add functionality for all the vanilla ways to start a fire, and any fire starting I add to the mod in a future version). The block will then smoke for ten seconds before applying an effect to all nearby players. Tobacco grants the player temporary extra health, sage grants the player health regeneration, sweetgrasss grants the player speed, and cedar cleanses the player of any negative effects (poison, wither, hunger, slowness etc.). Effects and the smudging process as a whole are fully subject to change. I have implemented support for more complex benefits as well, outside of just granting vanilla positive effects. I would love input here as well for how to better reflect the culture in this feature. The effects can be seen in the top right corner of the screen in the following smudging demo video:

Thank you all for reading, giving feedback, and testing. My motivation to start and continue this project lies in my own childhood away from my ancestry, combined with my love for minecraft. Playing as a kid and into my adult life is always a creative and envigorating experience. I want kids like me who also love the game to be able to share it with the culture of our people.

Woliwon!