Info on Teepees
A lasting hallmark of Native American culture, the
tipi, or teepee, is a cone-shaped tent that was traditionally made from
animal hides and birch bark, providing an effective shelter to the nomadic
Native American tribes of the
Tipis are constructed with a primary tripod pole
structure, lashed together to form the initial framework for the cone, which
are then supported with many more support poles that round out the design,
forming an evenly-spaced circle surface area where all the activities within
the tipi will be conducted. The
fabric is stretched around this framework and reinforced with pegs and pins.
A gap can be created between the ground and the bottom of the fabric
to allow air to enter on warm days, which can be sealed in colder
temperatures. The top of the
tripod is typically open to allow for smoke to escape if a fire needs to be
started inside the tipi for warmth and cooking purposes.
In case of rain, however, an interior awning can be attached to allow
rainfall to drain away down the sides of the tipi, keeping the occupants
dry. In the event of strong
winds, the poles of the tipi can be tied down to individual pegs, and the
tipi itself likewise lashed down.
An inner lining can be attached to the interior of the
tipi, held aloft by a cord, and pushed against the outer wall with bedding
and equipment to keep it in place.
This lining serves three purposes:
it keeps morning dew and rain from dripping on the tipi’s
inhabitants, it helps in the creation of an updraft that allows the smoke
from a fire to escape through the top hole, and it provides some insulation
in cold weather.
Many modern tipis also come with raised wooden flooring
for the sleeping area, which keeps both clothing and any bedding free from
dust and dampness brought in from the outside, as well as from insects that
may be crawling about on the ground.
The tipi is praised by many for the simplicity and
elegance of its engineering. A
tipi with dimensions of a 16-foot diameter and 22-foot long poles can easily
be erected by two people in about an hour.
This makes it an ideal temporary shelter for those who live a
transient existence out on the plains or in decently wooded areas, and a
suitable choice of tent for camping trips that involve small groups of
individuals.
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