First-person source: Patrick Mitsuing of Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation shares one set of Treaty 6 Cree tipi teachings as he learned and understands them. Tipi teachings, pole numbers, words and protocols vary among Nations, communities, families and knowledge holders. Educators should attribute this page to Patrick’s experience rather than presenting it as the meaning of every tipi.
This is a public educational introduction. It does not replace learning through relationship with local knowledge holders, and it does not disclose restricted ceremonial knowledge.
Great for all Grade Levels.
Here is how to implement this for your K-2 Level Classes.
Tipi Teachings and Pole Meanings
In the different tribes across Canada, there are different ways to set up a Tipi based on the area. For this teaching, in particular, the knowledge will be focused on the Treaty 6 territory and more specifically from the Cree Teachings.
The strength of our culture is so strong and it’s the young people who are the keepers of this strength to carry it on.
It was a women’s job back in the day to put up the Tipi.
We have a spirit that looks after our focus and attention to hear and listen. A lot of times we catch ourselves saying “I know” as a defense mechanism to not have to sit and learn to understand the knowledge is coming.
When we say “I know” out of something like boredom, we turn off this spirit to focus and learn.
Let’s start off with the teachings for the first 3 poles we will put up and the meanings of these poles.
- Obedience – Learning to listen to parents, teachers and mentors so knowledge can guide one’s journey. We learn through behaviour, observation and reminders from others.
- Respect – To have respect in the teachings, the laws, mother earth, your parents, your peers, and most of all – respect for yourself. Giving honour to other people within our community, those who visit, and our environment.
- Humility – To know you are equal with everyone regardless of social class, race, success in one’s life, how much money you have in your bank account or regardless of how many followers you have on social media. We are not above or below others in the circle of life. We feel humble and realize we are just a strand in the web of all life. Respect and value life.
These are the first three poles that will go up to form the foundation. The foundation of the Tipi, but also the foundation of human character.
This was the first mobile home in North America. The Cree Mobile home.
In the version Patrick shares, the pole connected with obedience is part of the doorway. Directional and ceremonial protocols are intentionally left for in-person learning with appropriate knowledge holders.
The Symbolism and Connection to the Woman
Patrick learned that putting up a tipi can carry responsibilities beyond construction because it creates shelter for the people you love. Any associated protocols, songs or ceremonial knowledge should be learned in the appropriate community setting.
The Tipi stands tall and open to show that invitation that everyone is welcome. The Tipi stands tall like a woman’s dress and everyone inside the Tipi is within the circle and safety of the woman’s skirt.
Spacing Out Foundation
A stable tipi depends on appropriate pole spacing, a strong foundation and secure ties. Because pole length, cover size, ground conditions and community practice affect the setup, this article does not provide universal step-by-step construction instructions. Learn hands-on from an experienced tipi owner or educator.
Meaning of The Rest of The Poles
4. Happiness – Completes doorway. We must show enthusiasm and our good actions will make our ancestors happy.
5. Love – You have to love yourself in order to give. You have to have it within in order to give it. Love for all things, be good to one another.
6. Faith – Learn to believe and trust others. Believe in a power greater than ourselves that we can worship and ask for strength. We need to walk this every day not just once in a while.
7. Kinship – parents, brothers, sisters, uncles, extended family who all work together to give us a sense of belonging in our community.
8. Cleanliness – Spiritual cleanliness. Clean thoughts come from a clean mind and this comes from our spirituality. This helps us to treat others good and have good intentions from a clean mind.
9. Thankfulness – To be thankful for others and all the kind things are done for us. Thankful for the day and night. Thankful for the food that we eat. Thankful for family and people who honor one another. Give thanks for the friendship.
10. Sharing – Sharing the fruits of our labors. To share teachings and knowledge.
11. Strength – Spiritual Strength that was instilled in us when we were young. To be able to endure through hard times and have patience. To respect other people’s hard times and help when we can. Accept our own difficulties and tragedies to understand others who go through it as well.
12. Good Child Rearing – To protect the child. This pole will hold the canvas as well and bring it up to the tipi. Never sell your parents short. That unconditional love they have for you the child. Take care of yourself for them. Don’t hurt them in any way. Be grateful for the strength of the child.
13. Hope – The knowledge and idea that things can become better than they currently are. That more great things can come and bless the community and blessing for yourself.
14. Ultimate Protection – Is the self-responsibility to grow yourself to achieve a healthy balanced body in all aspects including health, spiritual, emotional, for the individual, the family, the community, and nation.
15. Control Flaps for Wind – We are all connected on earth here by relationships and we depend on each other for a lot of things.
Tipi Symbolization and Meanings
The Top of the Tipi where all the rope comes together to hold all the Tipi Poles together represents Strength and Relationships.
In the teaching Patrick shares, the poles extending above the tipi can call to mind an eagle landing with its wings open. Eagle teachings and feather protocols vary by Nation and community and are not explained universally here.
The Tipi itself is said to represent the woman. The dress of a woman and inside we are safe.
Conclusion
The tipi teaches us how to care for ourselves and reminds us of the good values that make up an honorable person. It teaches community and how to care for others and how we bring ourselves together to live in harmony with all things.
Each of us has our own journeys in this life and it’s our responsibility to find our own gifts and how we can utilize our gifts to live good and to share our gifts with others.
How Can We Teach This in our Classrooms
Some schools have Tipis set up at their schools so they can always have a place to teach these values.
A lot of these teachings are common sense but nowadays common sense is not too common. So we constantly remind ourselves and others how to they can use these traits and values to carry themselves in their school or at home and how to treat others.
Math – The Tipi is in a scone shape and the base is in a circle shape. How many shapes can you find within the Tipi? The poles are cylinder-like and you can even find triangles in the top flaps.
What is the length of the poles, what is the diameter inside, what is the space inside the Tipi? How many poles are being used?
Physical education – With an experienced instructor, students can observe or participate in age-appropriate teamwork involved in moving, raising and lowering tipi poles. Do not cut trees, gather materials or build a tipi without landowner permission, safety planning and knowledgeable supervision.
Crafting – You can have each student craft their own Tipis in their classroom while teaching the values. They can design their own Tipi and now have all the teachings that go with it. Print out Tipis for coloring or connect the dots for drawing out a Tipi
Science – Use a model or 3D print to explore forces, materials, weather and heat. Invite a local knowledge holder through an appropriate relationship to discuss land-based knowledge that they are comfortable sharing publicly.
Social Studies – Talk about Tipis. How the woman were the handlers of the Tipis and how they had to haul these Tipis with the movement of the Tribe. Have a discussion about the tribes that used the Tipis and how they would have kept warm in the Tipis during winter months. Talk about how the laws of each pole can govern a community and a person.
Get Creative
Think outside the box of how the Tipi teachings can fit within your curriculum of teaching and your outcomes for your classroom.
To hire someone to come out and teach your class or school about Tipi teachings please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we can coordinate this all for you.
Contact Powwow Times: info@powwowtimes.ca or visit the Indigenous school assemblies page.
Bring Indigenous learning into your school
Powwow Times offers Indigenous school assemblies and cultural presentations led by Indigenous speakers, dancers and educators. Programs are adapted for age, location and learning goals without treating one community’s teachings as universal.
Editorial scope confirmed August 23, 2026.
