A Tip will help educate the Stratford community and reclaim identity for First Nations people as a team composed of Indigenous and non-Indigenous volunteers set up the structure on the property of the Stratford Perth Museum.
According to Chippewa of the Thames First Nation traditional dancer Kyle French (spirit name Niiohsin, meaning ‘Four stones’), a Tipi was one of the first portable structures that First Nations people used.
He described it as a mobile, familial home.
“You’re able to tie the Tipi poles back up and drag them behind you, you can leave them, make new ones when you get to a new location. Over the years, it has developed more of a meaning as to when the Tipi goes up, we use 13 poles to represent the 13 moons of the season.”
He said when the canvas surrounds the Tipi, it’s meant to symbolize the mother wrapping her family in her dress/blanket to keep them safe and close.
Knowledge Carrier from Aamjiwnaang First Nation Christin Dennis (spirit name Gzhiiquot, meaning ‘Fast Moving Cloud’) said the project started four years ago.
“My main aspect was to create a healing and teaching lodge for Sixties Scoop survivors and residential school descendants, as well as descendants of the Sixties scoop.”
Dennis said they built a 30-foot Tipi north of Listowel that brought in elders and knowledge carriers to talk to the community, and taught 1,600 students from the Avon Maitland District School Board and Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board about Indigenous culture for two years.
Dennis told MyStratfordNow that location was only temporary.
“We needed a place that was more communitive and a place that people could come, because where we had it, it was out in the bush so you’d have to hike for a bit.”
He added they aim to keep this structure in Stratford all-year round.
French said Tipis are meant to handle intense weather, requiring good tree poles to do so.
“Pines such as Balsam fir, Douglas fir, blue spruce have been used for our Tipis mainly for their strength, and also for how light they are when they dry.”
With his father and grandfather residential school survivors, the project carries a lot of sentimental value for French.
“It means a lot to me to be able to be here and help reclaim this identity, and create spaces that were once taken away from our people.”
Construction of the Tipi will be finished this week, with the site to soon have a hardwood floor and fire pit in the future.
The Tipi will be showcased in an open house at the Museum on August 29, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
