Spiritual Meaning of rhe Ectrrh Lndge: NATIVE AMERICAN FUN FACTS: The earrh lodge nut only supplied its occupants with shelter and safety but it • "1l1e Native Americans believed that was also central in promo ting and a woman's ability to have strong maintaining ceremonies and t raditions. EARTH children was connected with the lodge The four central posts had specific meanings. The posts represented the TI1e four posts were painted in the • Morning <1nd Even ing stars. Additional LODGE sacred colors: red, white, black and be li efs include that the t~) u r world pilbrs yellow suppt)rted rhe sky. The M<1ndan tradition Honoring the memory of deceased believed the earth lmlge was alive and irs loved ones, hair and finger nail S!' irit dwelt in rhe t~) ll r posts. clippings were placed on the altar I f ,· ' ~~; ~~//.1!~~~{ • Wel l built earth lodges could las t up to C1H11 mu n represen t <l t iO O S . ., l wo generations of the e<mh lodge: ~ E<u· th lodges we re p<lsst'd dow n to the T he H.ouf = The S ky ddest daughter from the mother T he W<li ls = The Hori:on If tvvo families occupied the same Cemral Pnsrs = Nnrrh Sr;u or Milky Way earth lodge the earth lodge was divide C entral O pening = The G rear Mystery in half and the responsibilities were ' r. Lud g ~.: Fire = Spark from the Sun shared equally between the fam ilies .. ;·~=: :~~1~):: i~> ' • "l11e most common type of tree used in the construction of earth lodges in Eastern Nebraska was the cottonwood ~.\1"'"'1 I· I I( I\ LH 1;.\..,IIJ I I \\ 1.., ~ 1 I \ I\ t-. LOCATED ON THE • Sacred songs were sung during the I "! I I 1\ 1' 1\ I 1 I\ I T 1\ \ II 1-< \ I..., I I 1 > 1\.., 1 E N T 1: 1\ l1..\' \ d UIPIII \lt l \ l construction of the earth lodge to N\ h . ,~, J .1l " '· N l "·'41 t' ~·h'~l ~i~ \IIi\.\' NORTHEAST SIDE ensure its stability and safety \\\\\\ f\IJ\ J\ f l'\\l,,ll h ll. l. 11 k~ \ ' l lh' l.• <l t.: --OF THE- I '.1\ < II Ill I 1\ 1: 1 R I: -\ f I: 11 I N 1 ~ l N Ill N 1 T I 1' N \\ I f I I ''~I \II\ l'lll\ 1 II ..,, II~''''-" N·\T I \ E .\~IEI\1\ .. \N I: P ll < :\ T I<\ N \1 I' 1\ ~ \\ dL\ ~ I VISITORS CENTER INTRODUCTION: This earth lodge is a EARTH LODGE EXTERIOR: re~creation of a traditional communal DIAGRAM • Smaller sticks, brush and grass dwelling primarily inhabited by numerous combined with loose earth created tribes of the Great Plains. a plaster shell that assisted in keeping the interior dry HISTORY: Earth lodges were used as permanent housing and first appeared in • Organic shingles were created by farming and trading tribes in 700 AD. overlapping sod They were built on bluffs so invaders • Flowers were planted on the top of could be seen. the earth lodge TRIBES: Earth lodges were mostly used • Children used the roof of the earth by the tribes of the Great Plains with • The entrance always faces east due to the lodge as a playground similar structures used all over The sunrise • Pits were dug to keep food cool United States and Alaska. The following • Wood and weapons were kept near the tribes built earth lodges along the door where the young men slept • Seasonal crops such as corn and Missouri River: Omaha, Pawnee, Ponca, • Dogs slept near the door for security wh ile squash were planted nearby Sioux, Mandan, Osage, Otoe, Arikara, the horses were corralled a short distance and Hidatsa away • The fire pit is located in the center so the .c.(!.... CONSTRUCTION: An earth lodge was smoke can escape through the opening in .. a large, permanent structure shaped as -. the dome shaped roof. The elder man slept ~ • 4 - • ~- - a circle. It was made of local resources nearest to the fire including trees, prairie grass, sod, buffalo • An altar is built to the west representing hides and willow rods. The construction the evening star. Placed on the altar are of the earth lodge was a collaborative sacred plants that include sage, sweet grass, effort under taken by both the men tobacco and cedar and women of the tribe. The men • Women and children slept on the west were responsible for cutting, hauling side of the lodge fo r protection and setting the posts and beams. The • A cache pit was dug into the fl uor where women were responsible for the binding, dried fruits and vegetables were stored thatching and sodding of the exterior as well as maintaining the integrity of their • The ground was tamped down and hardened by the use of water c:md fi re earth lodge. .