Sask. born woman embarking on ambitious teepee project

Brenda Mercer is undertaking a big project, motivated by something very personal – a desire to better understand and connect with her culture.

This spring, Mercer, a member of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, is setting out to build seven large teepees, handmade from scratch.

“I’m still on a healing journey. I found last year, after I built my first teepee, I was really healing during that process,” said Mercer. “Growing up with non-Indigenous parents, you didn’t really have the opportunity to learn anything like what kids had who were raised in culture.”

Starting on March 16, Mercer will start constructing the teepees in a building donated for a month-and-a-half by the City of Medicine Hat. She has 400 yards of canvas, three industrial sewing machines, a stack of teepee poles, and a big dream to make it all happen.

“This is about bridging culture. For 12,000 years, Indigenous people have walked this land. This is a way to honour that, to share cultures, and to hold space for others,” said Mercer.

Born in Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, Saskatchewan, Mercer was taken from her family as a part of the Sixties Scoops when she was just one day old. Over the next two years, she was placed in four different foster homes in Saskatchewan before being adopted by family in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan.

She lived in Saskatchewan until moving to Alberta at 17 years old. She now lives in Redcliff, a town bordering Medicine Hat.

But growing up, removed from her culture, had a long-term impact.

“I still don’t feel very connected to my culture,” she said. “I feel very alone in some ways, because I’m not accepted by my non-Indigenous culture, and when I briefly moved back to my reserve, I didn’t feel connected there either.”

But last summer, inspiration took hold of Mercer that sent her on a path of self-discovery.

She had acquired a book entitled ‘Indian Teepees’ 31 years prior, with the intention of making her own teepee, but life happened and she never got around to it, she said.

Then last summer, Mercer and her husband decided to finally get around to making that teepee. They ordered canvas and discovered that they could harvest poles in certain areas for free. They invited friends and members of the community to help create the teepee.

“People just loved it. The amount of support, willingness to learn, and having open minds and hearts was fantastic,” she said.

“The funny thing was, it gave me more pride.”

The experience only further motivated Mercer to dream big and connect with her culture. She had an idea over the winter to make not one more teepee, but seven. She applied for a creative grant through Indigenous Youth Roots, and was awarded $10,000 for the project.

As part of the grant, Mercer will be working with 16-29 year old Indigenous youth on the project. But, Mercer plans to extend the invite widely, to anyone who is interested in participating. She has already reached out to the Medicine Hat Friendship Centre, regional school districts, and the Redcliff Youth Centre.

“I want people to come out, to learn, and ask questions. It’s a safe space,” said Mercer. “I think it’s important to have different cultural activities around (Medicine Hat) that have Indigenous themes. This isn’t just about the work and storytelling, but about history and respect both ways.”

Mercer said that each teepee, when complete, will be 20 feet by 40 feet, and will be painted with cultural designs along the bottom edge.

Mercer said the City of Medicine Hat has already invited her to set up the teepees this summer at Echo Dale Regional Park. Further down the road, Mercer said she hopes the teepees can be set up at cultural events, or even establish a teepee village somewhere in Medicine Hat.

“Everything I do is motivated by being a good role model for my two daughters, my seven grandkids, and my one great-grandchild,” she said. “I want people to realize that being negative takes a lot of energy to maintain. Being positive takes a lot less energy.”

Through this healing journey, Mercer said she continues to feel more closely connected with her culture, and the community around her. She hopes this project will be an inspiration for others to chase big dreams.

“I just want to encourage other people to dream big, and just go for it,” said Mercer. “If it wasn’t for one teepee last year, I wouldn’t be doing this.”