tipi.teepee.tipies.tipis.tipijs. vigvams.tipija uzbūve, tipi construction, sweet tipis, native american tipis

Cover :
An integral feature of a tipi, the cover serves as your protective shell separating inside from out. Although the original indigenous tipi cover design consisted of several bison hides, Sweet Tipis covers consist of strong and durable canvas material, natural and aesthetic looking. These functional and beautiful covers provide years of comfort and security.
Canvas material from what we make tipi, is waterproof and protected from mould, mainly supplied in beige colour. Though it is a tough canvas we do not recommend be left permanently mounted outside, especially in humid areas and winter time.

Poles :
Poles form the base-structure of a teepee.
The number of poles needed depends mainly on the size of the cover and how many poles are used as a base. There are two traditional forms: on a three-poles base and on the four-poles base, of which the first one is the most common today. Following this method, an equal number of poles are accommodated in each section of the raised tripod, according to the size of the cover. Two smoke flap poles should always be taken into account. The poles we use are light and straight, and are selected without knots to avoid leaks produced during the rains. When it rains continuously, small drips begin to run down the poles and if they meet obstacles, such as knots, bark remains, imperfections, etc., leaks are formed at these points. The poles we use are made of spruce tree and given it is a resinous wood they are resistant to insect and fungal attack. With exposure to the sun they may darken but do not lose their resistant properties. However, to keep the poles in good condition and to prolong their life, we recommend they be varnished periodically.

Lining :
Formerly it was customary that inside tipis, behind the places where people settled, they holded large skins to the poles, hanging them like a curtain that touches the ground. Over time this practice evolved so the linings are now composed of canvas material that cover the entire walls of the inner diameter, from a certain height to the ground.
The lining fulfills several functions: it cuts the air currents that pass under the cover, stabilize the smoke output, keep dry inner space and make the inside of the tipi more comfortable, warm and cozy.

Smoke flaps :
Smoke flaps are designed to allow for adequate indoor heating especially where indoor fireplaces are present, as well as to regulate smoke and heat pressure output. The tipi flaps are hoisted by the firekeeper with two poles to open or close the vent. In the daylight hours the vent can be open for additional lighting, but in night vent may remain open to enjoy a view of the night sky.

Door :
Tipi door cover is design to keep rain, snow and high winds out of the tipi. We make American style doors what is suitable for all around year use.

Lacing Pins :
Lacing Pins are used to lace together the tipi cover from the door to the smoke flap. Our wooden lacing pins are 30 cm long with tapered end, usually in dark brown colour.

Pegs:
Pegs are very important part of the tipi, they base and stretch the cover. Pegging must be strong to resist any kind of wind.
Pegs should be hard wood so they won't split when hammered. Length about 50 cm and 3-5 cm in diameter.

tipis smoke flow, tipi.teepee.tipies.tipis.tipijs. vigvams.tipija uzbūve, tipi construction, sweet tipis, native american tipis

Hitory

The History Behind Tipis

The word tipi originates from the Lakota language and the word “thípi,” which is often translated to mean “they dwell.” Today, you may see it spelled as tipi, tepee, or teepee, but each is referring to the same type of structure.

A number of Native American tribes, largely known as the Plains Indians in North America, have a long history of constructing tipis for family dwellings, and sometimes for ceremonial purposes. The structures were especially important among individuals belonging to the Lakota, Pawnee, Arapahoe, Kiowah, and Cheyenne tribes.

For the Plains Indians, the tipi was more than just a home—it was a sacred space. The circle, a sacred symbol of the inter-connectedness of all things, is the basic shape, the foundation of the tipi. The floor symbolized the earth and the walls the sky. A small altar built of stone or earth was used for burning incense during prayer times. Inside and outside walls could be painted with symbolic designs—spirit beings, ancestors, and honors gained in battle were common.

Some tipis in a village would be painted, although most were not. Those that were painted, typically were decorated in accordance with traditional tribal designs and often featured geometric portrayals of celestial bodies and animal designs. Sometimes tipis were painted to depict personal experiences, such as war or hunting. In the case of a dream or vision quest, ceremonies and prayers were first offered, and then the dreamer recounted his dream to the priests and wise men of the community. Those known to be skilled painters were consulted, and the new design was made to fit within the traditional framework of [the tribe’s] painted tipis.

Many tipis were decorated with pendants and colored medallions. Traditionally these were embroidered with dyed porcupine quills; more modern versions are often beaded. Buffalo horns and tails, tufts of buffalo and horse hair, bear claws, and buckskin fringe were also used to decorate tipi covers. These attachments are often referred to as “tepee ornaments.”

When and Where Were Tipis Used?

There is some evidence suggesting that tipi dwellings may have been in use as far back as 10,000 years BCE. Archaeologists have found indications that dwellings made from a series of wooden poles existed that long ago by carbon dating soil samples taken from what appears to be the remains of ancient campsites or villages.

There is the possibility that these dwellings may be more accurately referred to as wickiups, which used bark or brush for the outer walls as opposed to hides or canvas (which would make them tipis).

Archaeologists have also discovered stone rings dating back to 7500 BCE. The stone rings can be more definitively linked to tipi construction, because stones were used to hold down the outer edge of a hide covered dwelling.

Tipis have more or less been in use across the Great Plains of North America since prehistoric times. However, what we may think of as a more modern tipi design came into much greater use once horses were introduced to many native tribes.

Horses allowed native peoples to become more nomadic, so the design of the tipi was perfected to the point where it could be taken down and set up quickly, and its components more easily transported.

Tipi Construction

The poles used to support a teepee were made from saplings. The bark was removed, the poles were polished, and dried to help create a sturdier base upon which to build.

Construction will begin by creating a tripod out of the three largest poles, and lashing them together at the top. The three poles would form a triangle base on the ground. A dozen or more other poles would then be laid against the foundation tripod, creating a circle with a wide base (usually about 7 to 10 feet wide for a family dwelling).

The outer covering of a tipi was made from animal hide in earlier times, and later on, from canvas. An average tipi may require as many as 28 Buffalo hides to adequately enclose the shelter. The switch from animal hides to canvas happened largely due to the dwindling availability of Buffalo, and the wider availability of canvas, which is lighter and easier to transport.

The outer covering was secured to the ground either by using wooden pegs, or heavy stones in earlier times. In the Great Plains, wind can become a problem, but a properly constructed and secured tipi is incredibly wind resistant thanks to its cone shape and thorough anchoring. In the summer months, the lower edge of the tipi covering could be lifted to allow cooler air into the dwelling.

One of the most iconic aspects of a tipi is the open top with the poles extending out. This opening at the top is what made tipis so much more advanced than other types of nomadic dwellings, because that opening acts as a chimney.

Smoke flaps which are located near the top can control airflow, and can be adjusted as necessary. This means inhabitants could have a fire inside the tipi for cooking, and for heat. During the winter months, this heat source became very important for survival, as did the ability to have a fire that is sheltered from wind and weather. During the hotter months, the opening at the top also vented away hot air, allowing for a cooler indoor environment.

Life Inside a Tipi

The tipi was more than just a dwelling to the people who built them. They represented many things: a home, protection from the elements, community, and a sacred space.

Bedding was placed along the floor, with personal possessions arrayed along the walls, or between sleeping spaces. Sometimes, men and women would be segregated into different sides of the tipi for sleeping, and for sitting.

In cold months, an inner lining would be constructed from animal hides, blankets, or strips of fabric. It would be hung along the lower portion of the inner wall, creating an extra layer of insulation to keep the inhabitants warm while they slept. Grass or brush could be placed between the outer wall and the lining to add even more insulation.

Many people ask about snow or rain getting into the dwelling through the open top of the tipi, and indeed, weather was a challenge to be dealt with. Many tipis were constructed to be slightly slanted, to prevent rain from falling straight in, and to allow precipitation to freely flow away from the opening at the top. Some of the more modern tipis had extra canvas flaps located on the inside, meant to catch rainwater, and prevent it from falling inside.

Tipi Villages

As settlers pushed westward, because of events like the California Gold Rush of 1849, many things happen between villages of various Native American tribes and gold-seekers, who attacked and pushed indians off their lands. From the end of the 19th century we have a first photographic evidence of the way some tipi villages looked at the time.

Some, not all, villages were arranged in a circular pattern, with each tipi opening to the east. The formation, spacing, and pattern all had importance to the people who lived there, and each member of the community would recognize their own particular place in that pattern.

Some villages would have a larger tipi reserved as the dwelling of the tribe leader. Others would have a large tipi acting as a community lodge or gathering space. Some villages would also have special tipi reserved for shamans, or healers.

The size of villages could vary greatly, from just a few tipis gather together, to an encampment of over 1200, such as the one encountered at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

The Importance of Tipis Today

Today, tipis have become an important symbol of the lives and cultures of indigenous peoples. Many are constructed for artistic and educational purposes and can be used to teach others about the importance and symbolism in these structures.

However, tipis are still put to practical use today. For ceremonial purposes, or for large gatherings, people belonging to various native American tribes will use tipis as their dwelling for the duration of the event.

Some modern hunters will still use a tipi as a hunting lodge. Others set up glamping sites and offer tipis to travelers as accommodation. Enthusiasts who feel in harmony with nature live in tipis during the warm months of the year. There have also been some grassroots movements among indigenous peoples to rediscover their ancestral roots, and to experience life as their ancestors did.

Many museums and parks have authentic tipis on display which the public can visit to learn more about the history of the structures and the people who lived in them.