Tipi Time

Today was a very cool day. I was fortunate enough to have MaryLee come in to my classroom to teach my students about Tipis. She is a Metis woman, born on a reserve and is an educator (an elder) of traditional First Nations knowledge. Simply put she was amazing.

All my students were so engaged in the lesson. MaryLee brought in a (mini) tipi and set it up right in the middle of the classroom. She explained the significance of each of the poles, and taught the students the ceremony. She even got one of the girls up to help. I learned that setting up and taking down the tipis is a woman's ceremony, so she never asks male students to assist her.

The tripod, and first few poles

Setting up the rest of the poles

Here are the meanings of the poles, there are 15 in total including the two that hold the control flaps:

OBEDIENCE

Obedience means accepting guidance and wisdom from outside of ourselves, using our ears before our mouth. We learn by listening to traditional stories, by listening to our parents or guardians, our fellow students and our teachers. We learn by their behaviors and reminders, so that we know what is right and what is wrong. 

RESPECT

Respect means giving honor to our Elders and fellow students, to the strangers that come to visit our community, and to all of life. We must honor the basic rights of all others.

HUMILITY

We are not above or below others in the circle of life. We feel humbled when we understand our relationship with Creation. We are so small compared to the majestic expanse of Creation, just a “strand in the web of life.” Understanding this helps us to respect and value life.

HAPPINESS

After the tripod is up, the fourth pole completes your doorway. This fourth pole teaches us happiness. We must show some enthusiasm to encourage others. Our good actions will make our ancestors happy in the next world. This is how we share happiness. 

LOVE

If we are to live in harmony we must accept one another as we are, and accept others who are not in our circle. Love means to be good and kind to one another and to our selves.

FAITH

We must learn to believe and trust others, to believe in a power greater than ourselves, whom we worship and who gives us strength to be a worthy member of the human race. To sustain our spirituality, we need to walk it every day. Not just sometimes, but every day. It’s not just once a week; it’s your life.

KINSHIP

Our family is important to us. This includes our parents, brothers and sisters, who love us and give us roots that tie us to the lifeblood of the earth. It also includes extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, and their in-laws and children. They are also our brothers and sisters and give us a sense of belonging to a community.

CLEANLINESS

Today when we talk about cleanliness, most people think hygiene, and that’s very important. But years ago, when old people talked about cleanliness, they meant spiritual cleanliness. When I used to sit with the old Kookums in their tipis, spiritually, they were so powerfully clean. Clean thoughts come from a clean mind and this comes from our spirituality. With a clean mind and sense of peace within we learn not to inflict ills on others. Good health habits also reflect a clean mind.

THANKFULNESS

We learn to give thanks: to always be thankful for the Creator’s bounty, which we are privileged to share with others, and for all the kind things others do for us.

SHARING

We learn to be part of a family and community by helping with the provisions of food and other basic needs. Through the sharing of responsibilities we learn the value of working together and enjoying the fruits of our labor. 

STRENGTH

We are not talking about physical strength, but spiritual strength. That was instilled in us when we were young people through fasting. We must learn to be patient in times of trouble and not to complain but to endure and show understanding. We must accept difficulties and tragedies so that we may give others strength to accept their own difficulties and tragedies.

GOOD CHILD REARING

Children are gifts from the Creator. We are responsible for their wellbeing, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and intellectually, since they are blessed with the gift of representing the continuing circle of life, which we perceive to be the Creator’s will.

HOPE

We must look forward to moving toward good things. We need to have a sense that the seeds we are planting will bear fruit for our children, families and communities.

ULTIMATE PROTECTION

This is the ultimate responsibility to achieve the balance and well being of the body, mind, emotions and spirit for the individual, the family, the community and the nation.

CONTROL FLAPS
The control flaps on a tipi teach that we are all connected by relationship and that we depend on each other. Having respect for and understanding this connection creates and controls harmony and balance in the circle of life. When we don’t know how to use the flaps, it gets all smoky inside the tipi, and you can’t see, which is like life – because if we can’t live in balance, we can’t see clearly where we’re going.

The final product

Interesting fact - the flaps you see above and on either side of the opening are used in accordance to the wind. Similar to a damper on an old wood stove, it regulates air circulation and prevents smoke from billowing down in to the tipi. 

MaryLee then sat with the students and began telling them stories about her, her family, her beliefs and the importance of ceremonies. She was so interesting to listen to and had the soothing voice of a grandmother. 

Listening intently

The students then had a chance to sit inside. They were all so jacked up about this! Who knew just sitting in a tipi could be so exciting.

As a beginning teacher, I really struggle with properly teaching First Nations and Metis content. It is a HUGE portion of the Saskatchewan curriculum, but it is so convoluted and complicated that teaching it always proves to be a challenge. Solution? Call in an expert. MaryLee accomplished in one hour what I try to accomplish in an entire term. This is obviously not going to be possible for everyone, but it is always worth a shot. Or you can go to this website.

Well that was a long post! Hope you learnt something valuable :)