Camp packs up, teepees being dismantled
Protesters vacate park, will meet to discuss next steps, path forward
Taking down a teepee is simple.
The last pole comes down first, and the first ones last — “the reverse of how it goes up.”
That’s according to Prescott Demas, who was busy Tuesday helping untie canvas from teepee poles, and then guiding them gently to the ground.
Four teepees came down that afternoon at the Justice for Our Stolen Children camp, in the wake of a court order calling on protesters to vacate the west lawn of Wascana Centre.
More were set to come down that evening, after the Leaderpost went to press. Camp spokeswoman Robyn Pitawanakwat said at least two would stay up overnight — to shelter protesters planning to spend Tuesday night across from the Saskatchewan Legislative Building. She said the camp’s central teepee would be the last remaining, but it too would “likely” come down.
Once again, the first will be last. Demas would only give a cryptic answer for what will happen to the sacred fire that has burned for 196 days.
“It’s going to be burning in our hearts forever,” he said.
The government wants that fire gone, as it violates a bylaw upheld by the Court of Queen’s Bench in a decision last Friday. Police are now saying that the court’s order “will be carried out,” but hope communication will be enough to persuade the protesters to comply.
That now seems likely, though the specifics and ultimate fate of the central teepee remain unclear.
It took about 10 minutes for Demas and other supporters to take down Yolanda Cappo’s teepee. She said Tuesday was a sad day. So did her father, James. But he said folding the canvas was also a “joyful” experience, since his daughter was there to help him.
“My daughters were taken by the welfare system and I fought to get them back,” he said.
Supporting parents like James was one of the aims of the camp, which went up shortly after acquittals in the deaths of Colten Boushie and Tina Fontaine. In the more than six months since, the protesters focused much of their attention on what they insist is a broken child-protection system.
Now their campaign is entering a new phase. On Tuesday evening they held a round dance and potluck that attracted about 100 people, who gathered to celebrate the camp and what it has stood for.
Pitawanakwat said protesters will then meet to discuss the path forward, including the proper ceremonial process for winding down the final teepee and its sacred fire.
She acknowledged that it was now more a matter of how, not whether, the final teepee would come down.
She said the hard work of taking down teepees has kept her from thinking about what it all means.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “So I think, likely, the impact of dismantling won’t really hit until everything is down and gone. But for now we just focus on the work and we keep going.”
She said the campers learned from their lawyer that they had to begin dismantling the camp on Tuesday, but she was unaware of “when everything has to be done.” She has heard nothing about any looming enforcement action.
The Ministry of Central Services, which oversees the Provincial Capital Commission, would not confirm any deadlines to the Leaderpost. It released a brief statement from Minister Ken Cheveldayoff.
“We are pleased to hear that the protest camp has signalled that they will voluntarily dismantle the camp this evening and are hopeful that they will fully abide with the court order,” he said.
The Regina Police Service has been in contact with the protesters, with two senior officers visiting on Monday. In an email response, police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich wrote that Wilkinson’s order “will be carried out.”
But she added that police are pleased that the order leaves a lot of latitude, and said that Chief Evan Bray is “working directly with all involved.”
Demas, for his part, remains focused on the work of the camp — whatever happens.
“I’m still on my personal journey,” he said.
The fire will remain with him, its flames and embers “a symbol.”
“It’s still alive even if the fire goes out.”