Tipi-maker is dedicated to work

Page 4

When the staff and students working on the Onion Lake Tipi Village were ready to order the eight canvas tipi covers needed to complete their new tourism site, they knew that they had to find the very best.

They wanted the best quality, design and workmanship available, made with an authentic flavor that would stand the test of time.

After researching the market, they chose the hand-crafted workmanship of Grace Stevenson, a well known tipi-maker from the Pasqua Reserve. Her recreations of ancient designs coupled with the latest in modern innovation were found to be second to none.

A talented basket weaver, beadworker and seamstress, Stevenson spent years searching for the perfect tipi design.

She aimed for a balance of form and function that's both practical and comfortable to live in. She wanted to honor and pay respect to the cultural ways and spiritual traditions of the Native peoples of the Plains.

Adamant to see a job through, Stevenson was keeping busy during the Onion Lake Powwow, demonstrating the art and craft of tipi raising. She mentored students from the Youth Services Canada Project, supervised by tipi village program co-ordinator Dalphine Jameson.

For the past year, these students have been trained to work in the tourism industry.

Using lodge poles cut from the nearby forest, there had to be fine tuning, with all nicks and branch burs smoothed off before the central tripod and eagle's nest formation could be pulled up.

Long support ropes pulled in a winding motion around an increasing number of lodge poles resulted in a standing structure of 15 that was securely tied, well grounded and ready for canvas.

Stevenson said smooth lodge poles were extra insurance against nicks and tears in the liner and outside covering, especially when the wind blew causing friction and rubbing.

The creation of a sturdy lodge covering starts with large rolls of heavy duty 10 oz. unbleached cotton sewn on an industrial strength machine using nylon thread as strong as fishing line. There can be no unfinished edges and critical points like the smoke flaps and lifting tab must be well reinforced to take the extra strain. Peg loops and pin holes for lacing doorways must be zigzagged for reinforcement and special care taken to ensure correct ventilation and updraft for the central fire.

She explained that doorways were culturally specific depending on the tribe. The entrance to a Blackfoot lodge was said to be large enough to put a horse through during a raid (from the Cree) while the Cree lodges had much smaller holes that could be tightly laced and blockaded during a raid (from the Blackfoot).

She said lodges would usually be set up in a sheltered area, set into a round shallow pit with the hardwood pegs driven in.

The decoration of a tipi was both personal and universal, the inside liner being a kind of "Indian wallpaper" that reflected the personality of the owners and the outside designs which told of war deeds, myths and spiritual matters.

"In my research I have tried to find out what really worked the best and was ready to listen to advice from Elders I met on my travels. If there is a way to improve on the design, I want to know about it."

Stevenson said the personal satisfaction of creating something people really appreciate is incredible.

"By helping give new life to an ancient tradition, I am drawing strength and creativity from the women of the past.

"The woman's drum has been silent too long. The time has come to make it sing again."