A teepee at this school was vandalized the day after it was set up. Now they're ready for a new one

Elsie Yanik Catholic School in Fort McMurray, Alta., has been trying to build a teepee for a long time, according to the school's Indigenous liaison Michelle Janvier.

This month, the K-6 school will make a second attempt after its first teepee was vandalized in October.

Janvier said when they were able to get local teepee builder Gary Boostrom to come just before the Thanksgiving weekend, it was a big deal for staff and students. 

"We were over the moon," said Janvier, who is Métis. 

"The school was buzzing."

The day arrived and a Grade 5/6 class got the chance to help.

"The sun was shining and it was a perfect day," Janvier said. 

Boostrom, who is Métis and learned teepee-building from Cree knowledge keeper, says students are encouraged to help set up the teepee and to ask questions. 

"The kids just love it. You see their eyes light up," Boostrom said. 

After the students at Elsie Yanik finished helping him put up the canvas, Janvier smudged. 

"I asked the Creator to bless this teepee and I thanked the Creator for the beautiful day because it was so beautiful," she said.

RCMP say two suspects riding on scooters and wearing masks approached the teepee at 9:42 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11— a day after it was built — and damaged it. Someone cut holes in the canvas the students put up, broke the poles and removed the pegs, according to a news release.

Police have some surveillance footage but are asking those in the area for any other footage or information. CBC Indigenous reached out to RCMP for an update but was not able to speak with them publishing.

Janvier said when she heard the news the next morning, she was angry and devastated.

"As soon as I saw the pictures, I wanted whoever did this to our teepee to be punished for their actions," she said.

"How could someone damage such a beautiful thing … What were they thinking? What made them do this?"

When the long weekend was over and staff and students returned to school, students began to ask the same questions, she said. 

"I just walked out there [to the teepee] and I just started crying," she said, adding the canvas was "in shreds."

Despite her initial reaction, Janvier said she doesn't want harsh punishment for whoever did the damage. She would be happy with community service, education or even an apology, she said.

"It's unacceptable, it's hurtful [but] I hope that something positive comes out of it." 

Elsie Yanik's teepee isn't the only one in the area to be damaged, she added. Others have faced less severe damage over the years since schools first began building them about a decade ago.

The teepees are part of schools' "reconciliation commitment," Janvier said.

Of the 10 teepees Boostrom has put up at Fort McMurray schools, he says eight were vandalized, though none as badly as the one at Elsie Yanik.  

"It's unfortunate that they're being vandalized," said Boostrom.  

"We don't let it deter us. We fix it and put it back up when we can."

While police have photos of suspects in the Elsie Yanik case, Boostrom said he thinks some of the minor vandalism of other teepees that schools resolved without reporting to the police is coming from youth. 

"We always remind them how sacred this is … but, to me, it's bored kids on weekends," he said. 

Ready for a new teepee

Within two to three days after the Thanksgiving break, Janvier said, Elsie Yanik students and staff were determined to bring something positive out of the situation. 

The school is planning to have Boostrom return to build another teepee in December.

The new one will be indoors to protect it from vandalism. That will also make it more accessible for students to read in or take a moment for themselves, Janvier said.

She said she tries to look at things in a positive way and so hopes whoever is damaging teepees gets education.

"I hope that they learn from what they're doing and that they stop."