By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Tipi serves up food for thought ahead of Canada 150

Jun 30, 2017 | 8:47 AM

A tipi constructed and decorated in the name of social action is also serving as a beacon of how some in the Indigenous community feel about Canada 150.

On display at National Aboriginal Day festivities at Coronation Park on June 21, the tipi is stitched with 450+ patches contributed by various community members and organizations including local school divisions and the City of Red Deer.

Theresa ‘Corky’ Larsen-Jonasson, a community elder with the Red Feather Women, says when the ‘Walking With Our Sisters’ exhibit left town, there was a realization that the issue of social justice remained.

“This is a part of our hope and our way to celebrate Canada 150, which for an Indigenous person, sometimes you just really don’t want to celebrate,” she said.

“The panels come from community, the tipi represents community, it represents the woman and how that woman protected her family and took care of her family with her arms reaching up pulling in all the goodness and good energy down into her family.”

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Jonasson went on to say everything from the poles to the pegs in the ground represent things like love, respect, trust, courage, honesty, and humility.

“We just thought let’s throw it open to community, give them an opportunity to demonstrate how they feel about Canada 150, whether it’s reconciliation or resistance or hope or making a commitment to move forward together, because we still have a lot of work to do,” she said.

“We at one time were so worried that we weren’t going to have enough [panels], but ended up having too many, so they also go along the inside.”

Weather pending, the tipi will be on display July 1 at Bower Ponds during Canada Day celebrations. It is also available for other community functions in Red Deer and surrounding communities.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Tipi serves up food for thought ahead of Canada 150

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