At the University of Lethbridge, learning doesn’t just happen behind a desk. In the IGBM 3522 Indigenous Project Management class led by faculty member Dr. Don McIntyre, at the Dhillon School of Business, students stepped outside the classroom to take part in a tipi raising ceremony, an experience that blended cultural knowledge, teamwork and hands-on skill building.
The ceremony, guided by Knowledge Keepers Shane McDougall and Jaron Weasel Bear and supported by Elder teachings, invited students to learn not only how to physically raise a tipi, but how the process reflects foundational principles of Indigenous ways of knowing: balance, collaboration and respect.
For third-year finance students Brett and Joel, the day stood out as something deeply meaningful.
“I think the smudging was really cool,” Brett said. “It really shines light on things that other cultures don't always understand.”
Joel agreed, reflecting on the sense of accomplishment the group felt together, “I just liked how everything came together in the end, seeing where we started, how we progressed and how it all came together," he said.
While many students had never raised a tipi before, the experience was a powerful reminder that learning happens through doing. “Going into it, I wouldn’t have known how to build a tipi,” Brett shared. “Would I be able to build one on my own now? I could definitely help.” Joel added that the experience gave him more understanding of Indigenous culture, something he’ll carry forward beyond the course.
Fourth-year Faculty of Arts and Science, Indigenous studies student Naatowaapitsoaakii (Holy Beautiful Womyn) Katie-Jo Rabbit brought a different perspective, one shaped by prior experience raising tipis and a deep connection to Blackfoot values. For her, the significance of place stood out.
“Every location holds different energy,” she explained. “The fact that we’re doing it at ULethbridge is very profound. Not only are we learning academically, colonially, but we’re also able to learn and apply some Blackfoot values into this learning session.”
She also found that the teachings applied directly to her ongoing project-management work within the class. Referring to a teaching shared by Knowledge Keeper Jeremy, she said, “You can’t be pulling from one side because then it makes [the tipi] lopsided. So you all have to collaborate and take time and respect each other. There’s no hierarchy. I realized I was approaching my project wrong, I need to remember that balance.”
The day wasn’t just about cultural learning or project-management principles, it was also about courage. Many students were unsure or nervous at first, but were encouraged to participate. Katie-Jo recalled a non-Indigenous student hesitating, asking whether they should try.
She smiled and told them, “Go ahead, you have to learn through experience.” Her advice for anyone raising a tipi for the first time? “Don’t be afraid of failure. Everyone is afraid, you always have to be okay with not doing something well the first time.”
As the tipi rose, it stood not just as a structure, but as a symbol of shared learning, of community and of the Dhillon School of Business’s commitment to weaving Indigenous knowledge into business education in meaningful ways.
As Brett put it, project management is about “being able to bring everyone together and use everyone’s different skills to create something as a team.”
At Dhillon, those skills are strengthened not just through textbooks, but through experiences that connect students to culture, community and each other.
The Dhillon School of Business at the University of Lethbridge is known for its immersive experiential learning opportunities, connecting learners with industry and its supportive, personalized approach. Study options available in both Lethbridge and Calgary.