Tipi of the Native Americans of the Great Plains

In the 17th century the Indians of the Great Plains began to construct huge conical houses covered with buffalo skins that Dakota Indians called tipi. They could be easily disassembled and taken to a different location on horse back. Before domestication of the horse, cargos were carried on drags driven by dogs. Dogs were unable to carry heavy cargos, so ancient tipi were much smaller than the ones that the Europeans came across in the period of development of the “wild West”.  In a settlement tipi were usually placed in circles and each family had their own, fixed place. The framework was formed by poles bended to the center and fastened on top with belts. On top of the poles curried buffalo skins were placed and attached to the ground with pegs. On these skins luminaries, outlines of animals and geometrical signs were often depicted that reminded of personal or clan legend of the tipi owner. Such signs were his property and no one could copy them without permission.

When buffalos became extinct, horse skins began to be used, and later canvas received from the Europeans. In winter freeze tipi protected people from cold, and in summer heat they were well ventilated. The entrance of such dwelling was facing the east. In the center of a tipi there was a hearth framed with stones. It served to heat, while food was cooked on open fire outside. Above the hearth there was a hole to let smoke through. To control the draught it was equipped with two valves that the Indians called “tipi arms”. The earth floor around the hearth was covered with two layers of skins – fur outside and fur inside. Here people rested covering themselves with blankets made of buffalo skins. In the depth of the dwelling the main value of the family was kept – a parcel with sacred amulets.

Tipi - conic tent of the Indians of the Plains. USA. Early 20th cent.