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The pre-vandalized teepee outside of Charles Spencer High School (phot courtesy of Fran Rogers)
By Liam Verster
Act of vandalism

Teepee honouring Indigenous grads vandalised outside Charles Spencer: Indigenous Liaison

Jun 30, 2021 | 11:58 AM

The Indigenous Student Support Liaison for the Charles Spencer High School says an incident involving destruction of property the day after National Indigenous Peoples Day shows that racism exists in Grande Prairie.

The teepee, along with a homemade banner sporting a big orange hand print, was raised outside the school on June 16 to honour the Indigenous students graduating this year.

Fran Rogers says the teepee and banner were left undisturbed for a few days, but when she went to disassemble it on June 23, she made a nasty discovery.

A folding table, that had been left inside the teepee had a big dent in it, an empty bottle of alcohol was left on the table, and next to it was what appeared to be human feces.

“They left it there, and then they [allegedly] proceeded to use the banner, which was hung up in the teepee with the orange hand print, and use it to wipe their bum and tear it up and it was left hanging sideways and smeared and torn.”

She says it appears that this was a deliberate act, especially because the school’s security footage didn’t show anyone partying on the school grounds. Rogers says watching the tape back, the only people to go near the teepee that night were three teenage boys at around 3:35 a.m. on June 22.

“The three boys walking side-by-side very deliberately towards the teepee. They were in the teepee for three minutes then they came out. It’s just a security camera so we couldn’t see their faces very clearly, but it was definitely three caucasian [teenagers].”

She says this action appears to be a blatant statement of racism. Rogers adds she feels this is learned behaviour, and feels saddened that these beliefs and behaviours are being passed down to them.

“That’s what makes me feel so sad, that this is being perpetuated in people’s homes. People don’t just turn out like that one day, they learn this behaviour.”

She adds these actions not only reflect poorly on the individuals, but on the community as a whole.

Rogers adds while this is one of the more unique instances she’s seen, racism in Grande Prairie is not uncommon.

She says it’s up to people to stand up and make changes to help stop these actions.

“I would like people to know that sympathy is not what we require. What we require is action. Speak up when they see these things, to report people that they know may have been involved, to identify systemic discrimination and take action, all of us, native and non-native.”

Rogers adds people should also evaluate themselves and identify their own prejudices and biases, then work to resolve them through open questions and conversations. She adds more should also be done to educate people on systemic racism and truth and reconciliation at school so that people have better understanding and awareness as they grow up.

“We need to work together, that’s all there is too this. We all need to work together through what this country is facing for all people of colour, not just native people, but all of us.”

Meantime, Rogers says she has reported the incident to the police. The RCMP has not confirmed what stage the investigation is in, whether the suspects have been identified, or what charges they could be facing if Rogers wants to press charges.

by Liam Verster