The Tipi
Tipis were the classic dwellings of the hunting tribes of the Plains. It is a form of shelter, which could be packed, unpacked, and erected very quickly. They were lined with dew cloths to help keep the rain from dripping onto sleeping areas, and were usually made of hide and later of canvas. Tipis were painted using designs depicting symbolic ceremonies, hunting exploits, or visions. These designs belonged to their creators and permission to use them was passed on by way of ceremony.
Artifacts courtesy of the Glenbow
Museum Collection,
Calgary, Alberta
Hides were tanned in early summer and could be made from the skin of deer, elk, or antelope. For the colder months, moose and buffalo were used for their thickness and warmth. The number of hides required ranged from 14-30 hides depending on the size of the tipi. Lodge pole pines, abundant in the foothills and valleys of the Rocky Mountains, were used for tipi poles and were cut in the summer.
The average Nakoda tipi was smaller and lower than those of the Blackfoot. They were designed for a single family of eight. A tipi consisted of 10-16 poles and was made by binding three poles together as a tripod and leaning the other poles against it. Two poles were used to control the air vents, or ears, at the top of the tipi, allowing for control of the draft and smoke.
The many tipis of a tribe would be set in a circle, the symbol of life, with entrances usually facing the morning sun.
