Tipi Tales facts for kids
Tipi Tales was a Canadian TV show. It was about a First Nations family living in a woodland cottage. The show taught children about the importance of family and friends. It also shared information about First Nations culture.
The show first aired on February 5, 2003. It finished in 2007. There were three seasons, with 26 episodes in each. This made a total of 78 episodes. Each episode was about 10 to 14 minutes long. The characters in the show were all played by puppets.
The show was made by the APTN. Treehouse TV helped produce it too. It was filmed in a special studio in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Both APTN and Treehouse TV showed the series at the same time. Tipi Tales was also broadcast in New Zealand and Australia. Reruns on Treehouse TV stopped on September 6, 2009. APTN continued to show reruns until 2010.
Contents
Meet the Characters
Russell
Russell is a four-year-old boy. He is quite big for his age. But he is a very gentle and sensitive child. People sometimes expect more from him because of his size. Russell loves to eat. He always hopes that Great-Grandmother is cooking something tasty. He especially loves her cookies or pies.
Russell has many fears. He tries hard to keep them secret. But they often come out in some kind of funny disaster. He looks up to Junior and Elizabeth. He wants to be "grown-up" just like them.
Russell counts on Sam to join him in his adventures. Junior is his hero. Russell is very proud to play drums for Junior's dancing. He loves it when Junior asks him to play together. Russell is goofy and loud. His excitement for life is catching. His best gift is the joy he brings to others.
Sam
Samantha, or "Sam," is a three-year-old girl. She is mischievous and funny. Sam is a free spirit who lives in the moment. She thinks everything is "the bestest!" She is cute and loves to cuddle. She has a curly bob of black hair that flops on her head. Sam can get away with almost anything. Her cousins find her a little annoying. But they would do anything for her.
Sam always pushes the rules. She rarely listens to anyone. She thinks she does not need advice. But this often gets her into big trouble.
Sam always tells it like it is. She is smart and quick. She often has big, sudden ideas. Because of this, she can convince her cousins to do wild and crazy things. She lives with great joy and freedom.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a confident five-year-old. She is artistic and expressive. She has an opinion on everything. Elizabeth sees herself as the leader of the group. She can sometimes be focused only on herself. This often leads to her being left out.
Elizabeth is like the "princess" of the group. She wants things to go her way. She is determined to make that happen. She has many fears. But she usually hides them well. She fights for what she believes in. This is true even when she is wrong. She sometimes has big meltdowns. But she has a good heart. She loves her cousins very much.
She can be caring. But she often acts like she is doing all the work. She will sigh and say, "I have to do everything myself I guess...." Elizabeth knows she is meant for great things. Even though she can drive them crazy, her cousins all look up to her.
Junior
Junior is a five-year-old Ojibway boy. He stays at his great-grandparents' house every week. This is while his parents work. His real name is Eugene, which he hates. So everyone calls him Junior. Junior is traditional and proud of it. He wears long braids. He loves everything about being Native. He is very spiritual. Junior is focused and serious. His feelings often get hurt. He and Elizabeth often argue about who is in charge. He can be very sure of himself. Sometimes he can be a bit pushy. But he has great passion for life and nature.
Great-Grandfather is his hero. Like him, Junior is a great dancer. He loves telling traditional stories. He is honest and loving. He is eager to experience life.
The Great-Grandparents
The great-grandparents are wonderful caregivers. They love and support their great-grandchildren. They are very important to their learning. They often help the children think in new ways. They have a gentle sense of humor and great wisdom. But they never tell the children what to do. They listen and understand. They guide the children to an animal. This animal then helps them find the best way to solve their problem.
Great-Grandmother
Great-Grandmother is wise and kind. She is often a bit mysterious. Great-Grandmother has a good sense of humor. The kids make her laugh all the time.
Great-Grandmother makes the best saskatoonberry pies in the world. She makes quilts and gardens with equal passion.
Great-Grandfather
Great-Grandfather is a traditional man. But he is open to the modern world through the children. Great-Grandfather is a dreamer and storyteller. He lives by the seven principles.
Great-Grandfather listens well and understands. He does not judge. He has endless stories. These stories charm and teach the kids. He loves playing his drum. He also loves teaching the children to do a Native dance. His laugh is contagious. He never seems to get upset.
He is kind and humble. He has a wonderful sense of humor. He respects the natural world. He teaches the kids about the voice in the wind. He teaches them about the spirit of the tree. He also teaches them about giving a gift of thanks. He knows the stars, moon, and sun personally.
Animal Guides
When the children have a problem, the great-grandparents tell them to talk with an animal guide. These animals help them solve their problems. The animals would usually sing songs with the children. Each animal stands for one of the Seven Sacred Laws, or teachings:
