Teepee a new attraction for visitors to RMNP

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Published on Friday, May 20, 2016

Photo by John Drinkwater. Raising of poles to form a teepee framework.

By John Drinkwater

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

On Wednesday, May 11, a group of Parks Canada staff received training in the raising of a teepee. Instruction took place near the Administration Building in RMNP and was conducted by Art Gordon. Gordon, originally from Swan Lake, MB, now resides in Minnedosa and has been building teepees for many years. An Ojibway, he has worked with Cree and Dakota people, learning their cultures and some of their language.

He said, “This is a 18 foot First Nation structure called a ‘council teepee’. The material is 10 ounce canvas and not treated. I prefer to use untreated to make it more authentic. I obtained the spruce poles from Norway House by bartering a 20 foot teepee. Nylon is used for the loops and fishing rope for securing the poles.”

Gordon predicted the structure should last 15 years provided it is well looked after – kept in dry storage and away from rodents.

After successfully raising the teepee ,Gordon performed a special blessing followed by home made soup and bannock.

Parks Canada has purchased the material to provide an added seasonal attraction to visitors.