Corporate Tipi Challenge a step toward a more inclusive community

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This article was published 21/06/2018 (2736 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest lifted a wooden pole up outside the Riverbank Discovery Centre wearing sunglasses, shorts, and a T-shirt, for a Wednesday afternoon that was anything but ordinary.

Chrest was a participant in the first Corporate Tipi Challenge held in Brandon, a prelude to the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Thursday.

“You mean it doesn’t come with an Allen key and a set of instructions?” Chrest joked as he looked at the 13 poles, rope, and material in front of him that had yet to become a tipi.

The challenge had eight teams, including from the Brandon Police Service, Prairie Mountain Health, Assiniboine Community College, Brandon University, Interprovincial Association on Native Employment Westman, City of Brandon, Brandon Friendship Centre youth and Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba.

The goal of the challenge was to further build relationships in the community, and to teach some of the participating corporate sponsors about their cultural traditions.

Although it was a light-hearted event, Wednesday was also about something very important: shifting away from negative stereotypes.

“When you look at us, what do you see right away?” asked Frank Tacan Sr., who was providing the tipi teaching. “‘Oh, he’s a big drunk,’ you go to that judgment right away. Keep the judgment out, because we’re also human beings,’” Tacan said.

Wednesday was an important step toward a more inclusive Brandon, where everyone was working together toward a common goal.

“To understand that it takes teamwork, that it takes patience, that it takes balance and stability (to build the tipi),” said Jason Gobeil, Aboriginal community co-ordinator with Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council.

Each pole used to make the tipis represented something different, such as kindness, respect, humility, love and happiness.

About 36 people participated in the tipi building, but the plan is for the event to grow, and to make it an annual occurrence.

The City of Brandon ended up placing first in the challenge — a four-person team with Chrest at the helm.

“It was actually really fun but it was also a great honour,” Chrest said. “We were properly instructed and I believe then we were able to do it (building the tipi) in the traditional way that has been passed down and it was passed on to us, so hopefully we honoured the process by doing it right.”

Although ACC president Mark Frison — who also participated in building a tipi — said his team faced some challenges along the way, their structure took shape quickly.

“You’re always worried about if you’re making a mistake, and sure enough we made one, then you have to go back and redo it,” Frison said.

“I’m not naturally inclined with my hands, so it’s been a good learning experience.”

Arlene Stewart, who works for Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba and also participated in the tipi-building challenge on Wednesday, said she believes the event as a whole was important to be a part of.

“Well, I think first and foremost (Thursday) of course is National Indigenous Peoples Day, so in support and recognition of that and our relationship with Indigenous people in Brandon and surrounding communities (the event is important),” Stewart said.

The tipis will stay at the Riverbank Discovery Centre until the end of the day tomorrow, when they’ll be taken down.

“It’s all been about collaboration, it’s all been about partnerships, and this just solidify that message one more time,” Gobeil said.

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