Students at École Camille J. Lerouge School raise a tipi's poles on Friday, April 29, in the school's central courtyard. The tops of the poles are adorned with orange ribbons in memory of the victims of the residential school system. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

could make a world of difference for a s

Camille J. Lerouge School raises tipi in important learning experience

Apr 30, 2022 | 12:29 PM

For Corky Jonasson, seeing a tipi go up at her old school — École Camille J. Lerouge — was a full circle moment.

Jonasson attended the school in the 1970s, remarking during a prayer and ceremony Friday that something such as a tipi going up would’ve never happened, but it could’ve made a world of difference as far as how alone she felt.

The tipi went up with the help of several of Camille’s Indigenous students in the school’s courtyard.

“Just like those geese flying over; since time immemorial, those geese have been making their journey and their circle over and over. This is part of my life circle, coming back to a place and time where I really struggled,” she admits.

“There was a lot of positive here, but I think as teenagers, we all struggle with self-centredness, and the mentality of thinking nobody understands you. But something like today would’ve made it easier.”

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Corky Jonasson during a conversation with rdnewsNOW in fall 2021 about her own backyard tipi. (rdnewsNOW)

Jonasson adds that she couldn’t grasp the Catholic education, even though, as she notes, her mother and kokum (grandmother) were convent-educated.

“There probably were other Indigenous students here, but nobody talked about it or shouted, ‘Hey, I’m Indigenous,'” she says. “You tried to blend in and not be so different.”

She adds that for the students to go out, harvest and clean the poles, and then put it up, while also receiving teachings along the way about what different parts of the tipi represent, is something to behold.

Sinead Armstrong, Camille principal, says the project began in the fall, with knowledge keeper Dean Shingoose leading the way.

Knowledge Keeper Dean Shingoose helped students at École Camille J. Lerouge School in Red Deer prep for a tipi raising in the school’s courtyard over the last six months. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“We’re tremendously blessed because our goal is to listen to what students want, and what we’re hearing is they want a culturally safe space. Being able to house a tipi here will help our entire school community move forward in our learning, and in recognition of the need to take steps towards reconciliation,” says Armstrong.

“This will provide those students out there, like Corky mentioned, a connection and a way to identify with where they go to school. The space will also act as a classroom environment for authentic teachings for all students.”

Camille has about 50 self-identified First Nations, Métis or Inuit (FNMI) students, out of its approximately 650.

This tipi was raised at École Camille J. Lerouge School in Red Deer on April 29, 2022. The tops of the poles are adorned with orange ribbons in memory of the victims of the residential school system. (Supplied)

The entire project, Armstrong notes, was parent-funded through the school council, with $10,000 allocated.

“This is our call as educators right now, to continue to make our next generation aware,” says Armstrong. “Residential schools and other things weren’t something I was aware of growing up, so the question becomes how do we continue to make a difference now that we do know?”

Coordinator of Indigenous Education Services at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Selena Frizzley, shares that the tipi’s poles were sourced from an area near Caroline, with students helping to peel the bark and then clean the poles. The canvas for the tipi was made by the Pê Sâkâstêw Healing Lodge in Maskwacis.

“When students walk into school and see a representation of their culture being respected and honoured, that’s a big deal to them. Also, Camille has done all of this with the proper protocols and traditions, and they’ve sought advice from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, which is always the first step for everything,” explains Frizzley. “Although the tipi is going up today, it’s been months and months of preparation, prayer and guidance the school has received from Elders.”

In 2020, Camille also commissioned a mural in its entranceway by local Indigenous artist Ryan Jason Allen Willert.

READ MORE: How a tipi in the middle of Red Deer is furthering truth and reconciliation