Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 10/99) - In 1998, when a caribou skin teepee from the late 1800s was put on display at Yellowknife's Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, the goal was to have it on permanent display.

But museum staff soon realized its age and fragility meant that it would deteriorate if on exhibit full time.

That is what prompted a museum project that is partially complete -- the creation of two replicas of the caribou skin teepee.

Museum sub-arctic archaeologist Tom Andrews said the museum is working with the Dogrib Community Services Board and the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council.

"Together we've been able to raise in cash about $58,000," he said.

"But we need another $35,000 to $40,000 to complete the project. We hope to be going out to seek corporate partners this winter."

Andrews said by the end of November people will prepare a proposal to take to Yellowknife businesses.

"Some elders have volunteered to go with (fund-raisers) to explain how important the project is. The educational value is important."

The original teepee was bought in 1893 by American graduate student Frank Russell from the University of Iowa.

He bought the teepee for $25 from the well-known trader known as Bear Lake Chief and Kaawidaa, which translated means "highest trader."

The teepee was returned to the North as a gift from the Iowa City museum to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

"We put the teepee on display and it was up for five months but because of its age and fragility, we can't leave it on permanent display so we had to take it down and store it," Andrews said.

The replicas are being made from caribou hunted this year by the Dogrib and tanned by elders at Russell Lake near Rae.

"We chose Russell Lake because it has road access. We can bus students in from Rae and Edzo and also from Yellowknife," Andrews said.