"I have found that writing from the perspective of someone else or from the perspective of an object, in this case a teepee, allows the students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the story. These teepee stories were written at the start of our study, yet they demonstrate an excellent understanding of what life on the prairie looked like and felt like in the 1800's."

Jennifer George, teacher

"I am the Calgary Stampede and this is my story. Lots of people come to me in July because I am the Stampede. I live in downtown Calgary. I stand beautiful against the sunset. I have been here since 1912 which means I am 94 years old. Guy Weadick built me so that I could teach you about history. He convinced the Government in Ottawa to let the First Nations bring their teepees and ceremonies to the Stampede. He also told them they could do their dancing at the Stampede. In those days Tom Three Persons came to the Stampede too. He watched 129 people fall off Cyclone the bucking bronco. Tom Three Persons won at the Stampede that year because he did not fall off Cyclone.

I have a Teepee Village inside my gates. People there roast bannock. I see the Natives doing the grass dance. They dance happily inside my gates. The teepees stand tall and proud on me. It feels good. I love being the Stampede."

Alannah, Matthew, Aaron - Grade 2 student
Holly, Ben, Nicolas - Grade 1 student

I am Teepee Village...

"I am Teepee Village and this is my story. I love when people come to visit me. Guy Weadick said to the Native People that they could come to the Calgary Stampede and not worry about showing all the harvesting stuff. He said they could set up their teepees instead. That is why I am here.

The sparkly sun shines bright and beautiful on me in the morning. I hear wood chopping to build a fire. I smell the fresh baked bannock being cooked over the fire. I see the children laugh and play in the teepees. I can hear the baby sleeping in his warm buffalo bed. After breakfast the dads play the drum and the moms clean the dishes. The children put berries in their soup. I can smell it. It smells good. I can see them eat the Saskatoon Soup. They savor every bit of the food. In the afternoon we start the Pow Wow. The dancers look beautiful. In the evening I see them dance under the moon and I see all the visitors dancing too.

I am really old. I hold a hundred stories. Every teepee here holds a couple of stories. I want people to see things here that they have never seen before."

Lukus, Georgia, Emma, Marissa- Grade 1 student
Jimmy, Teslyn- Grade 2 student

I am the Calgary Stampede...

"I am Teepee Village and this is my story. I love when people come to visit me. Guy Weadick said to the Native People that they could come to the Calgary Stampede and not worry about showing all the harvesting stuff. He said they could set up their teepees instead. That is why I am here.

The sparkly sun shines bright and beautiful on me in the morning. I hear wood chopping to build a fire. I smell the fresh baked bannock being cooked over the fire. I see the children laugh and play in the teepees. I can hear the baby sleeping in his warm buffalo bed. After breakfast the dads play the drum and the moms clean the dishes. The children put berries in their soup. I can smell it. It smells good. I can see them eat the Saskatoon Soup. They savor every bit of the food. In the afternoon we start the Pow Wow. The dancers look beautiful. In the evening I see them dance under the moon and I see all the visitors dancing too.

I am really old. I hold a hundred stories. Every teepee here holds a couple of stories. I want people to see things here that they have never seen before."

Lukus, Georgia, Emma, Marissa- Grade 1 student
Jimmy, Teslyn- Grade 2 student

I am an Elder...

"I am an Elder at Teepee Village and this is my story. Right now I am at a Pow Wow singing a flag song and soon my daughter will dance the Jingle Dance. We can show off our stuff at the Stampede! In the afternoon I will teach people how to play hand games and we will roast bannock, eat Saskatoon Soup and drink hot mint tea. People here can learn about my culture. We can learn about each other’s culture."

Jorin, Ryan - Grade 2 student
Devon, Liam - Grade 1 student