The tepee, a conical structure made of poles and buffalo skins, was used by nomadic Native American tribes for quick assembly and disassembly during migration. Teepees were designed to house a small fire in the middle and were rarely painted except during times of war.
A tepee, also known as a tipi, is a dwelling that was, and still is, used by Native Americans. Tipi is a Sioux name meaning “home.” The tepee is a conical structure made up of poles covered with buffalo skins. The rope is used to secure the dwelling together at the top. In periods of strong wind it is fixed to the ground with pegs.
While Indians are known for their use of teepees, this is not true of all tribes. Tribes such as the Iroquois and Algonquian preferred to create permanent residences, using structures such as brush shelters or wigwams. Only nomadic tribes, who hunted buffalo, used teepees. Their dwellings had to be quickly assembled and disassembled to follow the migration of the herd. Great Plains Indian tribes such as the Lipan Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa popularized the teepee.
Before horses were introduced to the Indians, the tepee was built in a compact size. Five or fewer people could comfortably fit in the teepee before it became overcrowded. The chief’s tepee was usually much larger, accommodating 12 or more people. This was because tribal meetings usually took place at his home.
During relocation periods, the teepee was dismantled and transformed into a travois. Due to the compact size, this could be done by two women, in less than an hour. The poles were assembled into a frame and covered with buffalo hides. The travois was filled with the things of the Indians and pulled by dogs like a sled.
When horses were introduced to the Plains Indians by the Spanish in the 1500s, teepees could be built much larger in size. With the power of horses, much larger poles could be gathered and used in the construction of the tepee, making it taller and larger in circumference.
The teepees were designed to house a small fire in the middle of the dwelling. The hole at the top allowed the smoke to escape, while the smoke flaps helped provide oxygen to feed the fire. The structures were turned into the wind, to help blow the fire up and out of the chimney hole. During periods of warm weather, the sides of the tepee were rolled up to allow for the breeze to pass through.
Teepees are rarely painted except in times of war. During these times they are painted in traditional tribal designs, usually involving animals. However, many teepees were decorated with objects such as buffalo horns, tails, horsehair or bear claws. Due to the need to move quickly, furnishings were sparse and usually only included a bearskin rug on the ground for sleeping.
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