Northern College opens teepee

Northern College celebrated the grand opening of the new permanent 700-square foot teepee at its South Porcupine campus on April 5.
Designed in the likeness of a traditional teepee, the permanent structure is located on the south side of the campus facing Porcupine Lake. It is temperature controlled, ventilated, and connected to the college to enable year-round use.
“The teepee is a source of ceremony, relationship building, cross-cultural understanding and a place of sharing and reflection. Northern College is dedicated to creating and sustaining a respectful, inclusive, accessible, and culturally sensitive learning environment,” said Northern College president Fred Gibbons in a press release. “Celebrating our varied cultural heritage is such a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved, whether someone is sharing their heritage or experiencing something new.”
The teepee will play host to community, cultural and educational activities while providing an inviting environment for gathering, sharing, healing and learning. The teepee will be accessible to Northern College learners, partners, clients, and all those with an interest in learning more about the cultural values and traditions of Aboriginal peoples.
Construction of the teepee was officially marked last June with a sunrise ceremony facilitated by Elder Roberta Oshkawbewisens of Wikwemikong First Nation and Elder David Faries of Moose Cree First Nation to bless the ground.
In late March, a sunrise pipe ceremony was held to cleanse the teepee before its grand opening. Smudging, traditional teachings and a sharing circle followed.
The structure will provide an inclusive environment to meet the needs of cultural, community, and educational activities such as smudging, Aboriginal teachings, traditional ceremonies, as well as classes, seminars and meetings with Aboriginal content. It will be used by faculty, aligning with traditional methods of learning such as storytelling and learning circles.
The teepee is part of Northern College’s strategic direction, Aboriginal Perspectives.
Northern College is committed to holding meaningful dialogue and developing partnerships with Aboriginal leaders, learners, communities and employers, and building on strong relationships that have already been established.