Panel #3

.  The Aboriginal people adapted well to the challenges of this environment and developed a close relationship with the land and animals upon which they depended for survival.   Their strength was nurtured by a deep spirituality and rich ceremonial life, part of which is the teepee.

The teepee was durable,  warm and comfortable in the winter; dry during heavy rains, and cool in the heat of the summer.  Teepees could be disassembled and packed away quickly when a tribe decided to move.  This was important for their nomadic lifestyle.

However, the teepee was so much more than a shelter.  It was a sacred space, a symbol, and a ceremony.  Everything has a meaning and a lesson to be taught, even the rocks are sacred.   The teepee teachings relate to nurturing the spiritual, physical, emotional and mental part of ourselves.  There are many, many teachings and  I won’t be able to share all of them with you, but in sharing a bit of the meaning it is hoped that you  will gain a small understanding of the richness of the native traditions and the value in the lessons even in our modern world.

You will notice that the basic shape, the foundation of the teepee, is a circle, a sacred symbol of the interconnected  nature of all things.  The Cree people use fifteen  poles to make the structure of the teepee.  For every pole there is a teaching:

The first 3 poles are tied together to make a tripod and the lessons are: Obedience, Respect and Humility.

Each of the remaining poles taught another lesson such as : love, faith, thankfulness etc.:

Teepees are a remarkable example of human creativity. Sometimes you can still see them set up at Rodeos, Pow wows, or other  First Nations Celebrations, and if you’re lucky you can catch some of the elders telling stories inside.