In this video from Treaty Days 2025, we witness a moment that resonates at the very heart of our Way of Life Teaching: the raising of the ceremonial teepee on the WCFN Recreation Grounds. Far more than a temporary structure, this teepee stands as a living testament to our cultural heritage, our shared Treaty relationship, and the enduring lessons passed down through generations.

The Significance of the Teepee

The teepee’s conical form—its poles reaching skyward and its walls embracing the earth—embodies the Cree understanding of balance and connection. Traditionally, each pole represents an element of our world: community, spirit, family, land, water, fire, air, and teaching. As the canvas is drawn taut, we remember that these elements must work together in harmony, both within ourselves and within our community.

Community Hands at Work

Watch closely as Elders and youth stand shoulder-to-shoulder, guiding each pole into place. Every action is deliberate: the careful placement of poles, the precise cinching of rawhide ties, and the final sweep of the teepee’s interior. By sharing these tasks, we reinforce a key Way of Life Teaching—that knowledge is not held by one person, but is carried, shared, and renewed by all.

A Space for Learning and Ceremony

Once the teepee stands tall, it becomes a classroom and a gathering hall. Inside, smoke from sacred medicines mingles with voices sharing stories of past hunts, Treaty promises, and visions for the future. Here, workshops on Cree language and traditional crafts weave seamlessly with conversations about community well-being. Every time someone steps beneath its frame, they enter a living lesson on resilience, respect, and responsibility.

Renewing Our Treaties

Raising the teepee at Treaty Days is an act of renewal—of the promises made long ago and the commitments we uphold today. It invites each of us to remember our role in a larger story: to honour our ancestors, support our families, and teach our children the values that define us.

Watch the full teepee-raising video above, share it with your networks, and carry its teaching forward. In every breeze that ripples through the canvas, may we hear the heartbeat of our Way of Life.