The Plains Indian Tipi http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/001/001-029-... Issue # 1 - January/February 1970 THE PLAINS INDIAN TIPI "There were 50 tents made of tanned hides, very bright red and white in color and bell-shaped, with flaps and openings, and built as skillfully as those of Italy, and so large that in the most ordinary ones four different mattresses and beds were easily accommodated. The Indians . are as well sheltered in their tents as they could be in any house. " From Don Juan de Oñate’s account of a 1599 Great Plains expedition "Tazhebute came to join us with a good Indian tent . Those tents have no equal for camping purposes. They shed the rain well, and in cold weather one can build afire right in the center of them, with the smoke rising cleanly up out of the top, where the flaps are set to suit the way of the wind. "Thomas Henry Tibbles, describing an 1881 trip among the Ponca Indians in his book, BUCKSKIN AND BLANKET DAYS "Ye kin live in it forty below zero and fifty ’bove suffocation an’ still be happy. It’s the changeablest kind of a layout for livin’ in. " Caleb Clark, The Old Trapper, in Ernest Thompson Seton’s TWO LITTLE SAVAGES, 1903 "It’s a whole new trip, man. It’s, like, living inside and outside both at once. During the day - even on dark days - a tipi has a mellow, even illumination that’s never been equalled in a house. When it rains, you’re right out in it . yet protected, you know? Like, you’re right there, man, but warm and dry too. And at night . wow . It’s a groove to watch the fire making shadows on the wall and - later - maybe wake up to see the moon or some stars shining down through the poles in the smoke hole. Fantastic. "I once heard Buckminster Fuller tell how he wanted to build a double-walled geodesic dome house for movie director John Houston and Fuller’s basic idea was that living in the place would be a natural inside-outside thing. But it’s already been done, man. Like, the Indians were WAY ahead. " A back-to-the-land tipi dweller, 1969 For over 400 years, knowledgeable people have agreed that the Plains Indian tipi is absolutely the finest of all movable shelters. To the Indian - whose concept of life and religion was broader, deeper, richer and infinitely more unified than that of his white conqueror - the tipi was much more: Both home and church . a sacred place of Being and sharing with family, friends, Nature and Man-Above. Unfortunately, the white man - with a fragmented and neatly compartmented view of existence - found the All-encompassing Indian way literally "beyond understanding" and, therefore, of no consequence. This high-handed and naive judgment extended, of course, to the lodges of the Plains Indians. 1 of 16 08/12/05 13:26 The Plains Indian Tipi http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/001/001-029-... In the "either-or" white mind, the tipi was flimsy and primitive "We could not only move our when compared to a solid, substantial frame building. The fact that houses but could move entire a tipi was bright, open, airy, warm, dry and easily transported over villages, and we often did. In this (and, therefore, a part of) all outdoors while the frame structure respect we were better off than the white man is. We moved to suit the was - and largely remains - closed in, dark, poorly ventilated and seasons, in summer or in winter; rather pathetically rooted to one spot was completely beside the we moved to be near a good supply point to this schizoid way of thinking. of wood and water, or for fresh pasture for our ponies." Luckily, our "civilized" appraisal of the Indian way is now going THE ARAPAHO WAY 2 of 16 08/12/05 13:26 The Plains Indian Tipi http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/001/001-029-... through some changes and that more reverent life style is increasingly understood and embraced by the new Gentle People. Althea Bass As one result of this trend, the tipi - so much a part of Plains Indian "The Sioux and Cheyennes used a life - is enjoying a sudden popularity. three-pole tripod foundation, with one pole being placed so as to support the right side of the door, The tipi is not the final answer for everyone, of course (even the thus projecting slightly lower than Plains Indians built other structures), but it remains - time, money the others at the rear. The other and labor vs. comfort, utility and versatility - probably the world’s poles were then piled around this foundation. The Crows used a most efficient shelter. If you’ve ever wanted one for camping, four-pole foundation, the apex of semi-permanent or even permanent living, here’s how to make it which could be easily noted below happen: the apex of the remainder of the poles." TIPI DESIGN THE FRONTIER YEARS Brown and Felton There are two basic Plains Indian tipis: One uses three foundation poles and the other has four. Our plans are for the three pole design "The poles, necessary for the which is simpler, stronger and - in general - superior to the four construction of these movable dwellings, are not to be found in pole model. The dimensions given here are largely taken from the any part of the country of the Sioux tipi pattern presented by Reginald and Gladys Laubin in Kaskalas, but are purchased from their University Of Oklahoma Press book, THE INDIAN TIPI. the Indians of Missouri, or others inhabiting countries more plentifully supplied with timber. Just to get it straight right in front, the Laubin book is the We are Informed by Bijeau, that authoritive work on the Indian tipi and contains a wealth of five of these poles are, among the information on the construction, tradition and lore of the tipi that Bad-hearts, equal in value to a you won’t find here or anywhere else. We’re going to give you horse." detailed instructions on making, pitching and living in a tipi . .but Major Stephen H. Long if you really want to learn about this shelter, you’ve got to read 1819-1820 Expedition THE INDIAN TIPI. "The tanning is so fine that although it should rain bucketfuls, THE POLES it will not pass through nor stiffen the hide, but rather upon drying it Indian tipis varied from slightly less than 10 feet in diameter, for remains as soft and pliable as hunting expeditions, to permanent lodges with a diameter of more before." than 30 feet. The larger structures naturally required more and Don Juan de Oñate longer poles than the smaller ones. We’ve compromised on a tent diameter of approximately 18’6" (roomy but easily transported by car) and - for this size - you’ll need 17 poles about 25 feet long. The fifteen poles used in the frame should be three or four inches thick at the butt and two inches through where they cross and tie. The two smoke flap poles need be no thicker than two inches at the butt. The best poles always come from a young, crowded stand where each tree has grown tall and slim reaching for the sun. Red and white cedar make exceptionally light, strong supports which were prized by some tribes. Lodge-pale pine (guess how it got its name) and western yellow pine are both heavier but still make good tipi supports. If none of these are available; use the best timber you can find for the job or buy some fast quality 2X4’s, rip them lengthwise on a taper and round the corners with a draw knife or joiner. If you do find some suitable timber, cut the trees early in the spring (remember, when selecting, to allow for removal of bark and shrinkage) and trim off all knots and branches "up the tree" with an axe or chainsaw. Lay each pole across two sawhorses (small blocks nailed to the horses 4" apart will keep the poles from tuning) and - starting at the butt - straddle the pole and peel it with a sharp draw knife. 3 of 16 08/12/05 13:26 The Plains Indian Tipi http://www.motherearthnews.com/menarch/archive/issues/001/001-029-... Season the peeled poles by laying them flat across pieces of scrap lumber spaced two feet apart on a patch of open ground. Let the pores air and sun cure for three to four weeks. Turn them regularly so they'll season out straight and true. The Laubins recommend a good application of pentachloraphenol, log oil or floor hardener to preserve and protect the finished poles. If you're on the non-chemical trip, you may prefer to let the wood age naturally . or compromise on a couple coats of linseed oil rubbed in. THE COVER A properly tanned hide tipi cover was a beautiful creamy white and you're going to want a white, pearl grey, yellow or other bright canvas for your cover. The colored canvas - blue, green, brown and olive drab - so dear to the hearts of most tent makers is not at all traditional and will make your finished tipi dark and dreary inside. The coated "modem" fabrics also shut out too much light and the Laubins have found that muslin exposed directly to the sun has a short life. So a light colored, light weight canvas it is.