BEHCHOKO/RAE EDZO
If Ethan Apples ever finds himself in a situation where he needs to build a teepee, the Grade 11 student will know exactly what to do.

Students wrap the teepee with a large tent. The teepee will be used for cooking and for story telling with local elders. From left, Jacob Migwi, Ethan Bishop, Tristen Rabesca, Beasley Mantla, Jennifer Zoe and Jeremy Mantla. - photo courtesy of Paul Gentleman

Apples and his classmates at Chief Jimmy Bruneau School in Behchoko built a teepee as part of their Career and Technology Studies course earlier this month, said teacher Paul Gentleman.

After talking to experienced teepee-builders in the community, the class learned what type of tree makes the best poles, Apples said.

"The way we chose the trees is we talked to people that know how to make teepees - they said the good tree is not too thick or not too thin," he said. "Then we were walking into the woods beside the school looking for trees that were a good size."

An axe is then used to cut off any branches before removing the bark, Apples explained. Then they branches have to be left out to dry in the sun before they can be used.

Gentleman said he plans on having students assemble and disassemble the teepee at least four times so the process becomes second nature.

"It has to be an automatic skill for survival," he said.

The teepee will be used as a traditional cooking shelter where students plan to make bannock and boil tea, as well as a place for storytelling with elders.

"It's kind of a multi-purpose shelter," Gentleman said. "For this particular course we were using it more for a cooking teepee. We might not enclose it as much as we would for something we were going to sleep in."

Making the teepee also encouraged students to share information with each other, which is another practice Gentleman said he hoped to encourage.

"A lot of students come to this course with some prior knowledge," Gentleman said. "You are to share the knowledge that you have."

One student in particular, Jennifer Zoe, had experience with teepee-building and shared what she knew with classmates.

"She taught that class basically," Gentleman said. "She directed it."

Apples said in addition to learning about every step of building a teepee, he also learned the many uses for spruce gum, including its power to alleviate toothaches. He said he enjoys learning from people with local experience.

"I like when we get to go on the land and they tell us about stuff," he said. "I guess I just got interested in it."

Gentleman said students make a teepee from start to finish each year, so this year's teepee could be given to someone in the community.

"We'll donate those teepee poles to someone who is unable to make their own," he said.

Apples said his advice to anyone planning to make their own teepee is to look for the right materials and to work together as a team.

"They should look for good, strong poles and they have to leave them out to dry for two to three weeks," he said. "They also need good team support."

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