Each pole was carved from a large rod of green wood, which HeavyShield whittled down to its core. She then let each piece air-dry, creating twelve long stems with a slight inward arc. The poles are arranged in a circle, like tipi poles. They are also reminiscent of long prairie grasses framed against an open sky. Their creamy ochre colour and organically shaped bases also bring to mind the image of bones.The circular arrangement projects both a sense of a sacred enclosed space and a feeling of openness. The journal writings from which this piece emerged explore the idea of the fort. The artist's intention in the sculpture was to redefine this image. Thus, the traditional heavy wooden barricade has been shaved down to a skeletal form and rearranged into the shape of an open and inviting circle.