Sanctuary Tipi Project
$1,404
Raised
9
Donations
$12,000
Goal
Fund-raiser for Tipi Project
This project began five years ago when we were inspired by a visitation to the Sanctuary by the late, great Eagle Man - Ed Mcgaa - Lakota wisdom keeper, warrior, activist, and author of the now classic Mother Earth Spirituality: Native American Paths to Healing Ourselves and Our World. You can read more about his visit on our blog. He spent a week with us sharing his experiences ranging from Vietnam to the American Indian Movement.
Tipis are one of the architectural poems of the Nation of Lakota, among other tribes. Simple, strong, mobile, spacious, sacred, versatile, and noble, tipis reflect deep wholeness. They are also, according to Russell Means, comfortable under severe conditions, with special flap systems which optimize heat and air flow. Ecologically, tipis shine as examples of gentle loving stewardship of the earth, reflecting the deepest teaching of Indigenous ethics: that the earth does not belong to us, we belong to her.
So several years ago, encouraged by Eagle Man’s mandate to find our own connection to Original Wisdom through the guidance of Lakota principles, we decided to create one of these at the Sanctuary. From a philosophical perspective, these structures reflect the Sanctuary’s mission: earth-based spirituality, non-violent living, ecological regeneration, and the spiritual pleasure of simplicity.
The poles are red cedar posts and were harvested from the Sanctuary land trust. In the picture above are the volunteers who helped: Brian Donovan (left), Nate Nadeau (center), and Nick Capozza (right). We lost our dear cousin Brian this year. This project is dedicated to his loving heart.
The tipi has served the Sanctuary community well already as a ceremonial meditation space. Three years ago, a friend of the Sanctuary, Karlitos Suarez, built a beautiful stone fireplace in the middle of the tipi and cooked food for several events.
We discussed ways to cover the structure and decided on a Lakota-style canvas skin and flap system from a company called Nomadics Tipi Makers who create authentic skins and do much to support the Lakota community. You can check them out here: https://tipi.com/we-care/. In December 2020 we raised $4000 and purchased one of their creations. The next step is to build a deck for the floor of the space. The estimated cost of building materials for this deck is $11,066.00 including sonotubes, concrete, posts, decking materials and hardware. All labor will be provided by Sanctuary staff and volunteers.
When complete, this tipi will offer visitors to the Sanctuary land trust an educational experience in earth-friendly architecture and self-reliance while providing a sacred space for community events. It will also be available for private events, as well as enjoyed by visitors to the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary land trust is open to the public daily as a community resource for environmental education, ethics, and spirituality.
Thank you for listening to our story, and for any help you can offer!