Ossian Makes a Tipi

Background Information

Tipis were once the homes of native people on the Great American Plains. The people of the plains depended upon herds of wild buffalo which they hunted, following them over great distances. They needed homes that could be carried easily and that could be put up and taken down quickly. The word tipi comes from the language of the Cree tribe and means ‘home’ or ‘habitation’. Tipis were made and owned by the women of the tribe.

A tipi should be made so that its cone leans slightly backwards. This lets smoke pass easily out through a special flap, as a fire pit is often sunk inside the tent. There are three main posts, called lodge poles, in the framework. Up to nine lighter poles can be added for extra support. Inside the tipi, a rope anchors the frame to the ground. The bottom edge of the cover is held in place by wooden pegs. When finished, a tipi has a diameter of about 4.5 metres.

Tipi covers were once made from buffalo hides. At the bottom of the tipi were symbols of the Earth, from which all life springs. At the top were designs showing the sky and birds. Today, the covers are usually made from canvas and tipis are often used as holiday homes.

Europeans settled in North America during the seventeenth century. Over the next two hundred years, they hunted buffalo – almost to extinction. Without the buffalo, the Native Americans’ way of life changed. Gradually, the tipi became a thing of the past.