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"I am a teepee..." - Student Reflections and Writing

"I have found that writing from the perspective of someone else or from the perspective of an object, in this case a teepee, allows the students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the story. These teepee stories were written at the start of our study, yet they demonstrate an excellent understanding of what life on the prairie looked like and felt like in the 1800's."

Jennifer George, teacher

Water colour painting by Grade 1/2 student
Water colour painting by Grade 1/2 student

"I am a teepee. Step in and I'll tell you my story.

I was built in 1979. I am in the prairie. The season is winter with a blanket of snow.

The hunters just came back. They caught a buffalo.

My human just died. I miss him. I wonder who I am going to get passed on to?

I have black circles on the bottom of me and there are pointy designs on top of the circles. This means that my story took place in the mountains.

The Native people were the only ones in the Province for a long time. It is important to learn about our story. It is important to learn about our culture.

I hope you will come back again and learn some more about our culture."

Liam - Grade 1 student

Water colour painting by Grade 1/2 student - 2
Water colour painting by Grade 1/2 student

"I am an old teepee and I will tell you my old story.

I live in the prairie. I have been on the prairie since 1920. I am THAT old. It is 2005 now. It is May.

I see the sun rising over the horizon. The man that lived in me died a week ago. It makes me feel sad. I wonder who I will get passed onto in two weeks?

I see the animals like ground squirrels and I see the blue sky. In the sky I see Canada geese flying east. I hear the fire. That means the family that lived in me got a buffalo and are getting ready to cook it.

I have bumps close to my pickets. That means my story started on the foothills. Now I am in the free open prairie.

I wonder if next I will be going to the mountains. I have four buttons on my heart. They hold me together. I have ribs on my sides because that's what holds me up.

My job is helping the family that lives in me because I give them shelter and warmth. My job is important to me because I want to teach people about me. I want to teach them because then when they grow up they can be wise and thoughtful like the elders that lived in me before them. I hope the children that live in me grow up respectful!

I am a teepee and I have told my story to you. Thank you for listening."

Dayna - Grade 2 student

Water colour painting by Grade 1/2 student - 3
Water colour painting by Grade 1/2 student

"I am a teepee. Come inside and I will tell you my story.

I am on the prairies. I see the children laughing and playing. I see people walking to me bringing food. I know they are going to cook it. I am surrounded with wheat. I see flowers blooming and birds flying south.

I look beautiful when the sun sets on me. I am coated with red and painted with stripes. I have a design on me.

My job is to keep the children warm and safe from the cold. The sun seems to blend the children together who are dancing around me. I want to play with the children so badly. I am waiting day and night. I see people grass dancing. It makes me want to dance but I am shy. People sometimes dance around me. It makes me feel proud. I try to smile but I just can't. I am too shy.

I am important to learn about because I want you to learn about Native people. The Native people are no different than you. You can learn about Native children and their culture too. There are a lot of Native children and Native Elders and you need to learn about them.

Thank you for coming to hear my story."

Teslyn - Grade 2 student

Pastel drawing by Grade 4 student
Pastel drawing by Grade 4 student

"I am teepee and this is my story.

I live in the prairie and I am new.

The season is winter. It is cold and freezing. Santa already came.

I have dots on the bottom and I am a normal teepee.

My owner is really wise. He catches lots of buffalo and then he thanks Mother Earth for the buffalo. He respects Mother Earth. He says, "When you teach children to dance you become young again." It means that it reminds you of when you were a child.

I am important to learn about because of my history."

Ben - Grade 1 student

Pastel drawing by Grade 4 student - 2
Pastel drawing by Grade 4 student

"I am a teepee. Come in. I am nice and warm inside. Come in, it is cold out there so come in and listen to my story. Come in please.

My job is to take care of the Natives and protect them and keep them warm and give them shelter. You will be warm inside of me. That is my job.

I look cool inside. I have artwork inside. The artwork is of teepees and Native people and buffalos and of the beautiful night sky. On the outside I have a buffalo design that is a female. It has a red forehead. I also have yellow dyed fake grass that was drawn on and rocks and mountains and a door.

I can teach you about dream catchers and lodge pole pine and bannock making and mint tea making. My story is important."

Devon - Grade 1 student

Pastel drawing by Grade 4 student - 3    Pastel drawing by Grade 4 student - 4
Pastel drawings by Grade 4 student
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