Teepee Information
Teepees are conical-shaped dwellings that are most associated with the American Indians, particularly tribes that lived in the Great Plains, though other cultures have also used teepees of various styles in the past and present. Teepees are well-suited for nomadic societies because they can be assembled and taken down with relative ease. Teepee is also spelled tipi or tepee.
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Exterior
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The original teepees of the Great Plains Indians were made with buffalo or elk hide, according to Linda Holley, author of "Tipis, Tepees, Teepees: History and Design of the Cloth Tipi." Modern teepees, however, are made with cloth. The Manataka American Indian Council's guide to teepees said that 8-oz. canvas is sufficient for the cover of a modern teepee.
Tilted Cone
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Great Plains Indians chose to tilt the cone at the top of a teepee into prevailing winds, according to a short history of teepees at ColoradoYurt.com. The tilted cones made the teepees a bit asymmetrical. The design allowed the teepee to withstand strong bouts of inclement weather better. It also provided more living space for its inhabitants.
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Smoke Hole and Flaps
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According to ColoradoYurt.com, teepees were designed with a smoke hole located on the front roof of the teepee, where it sloped, and featured flaps that could control the smoke and ventilate the teepee. Poles on the outside of the teepee supported the flaps. Managing fire was critical because inhabitants built fires inside the teepees to stay warm in the winter.
Size
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According to the Manataka American Indian Council, a good size for a teepee is approximately 15 feet by 30 feet. That size provides a significant amount of livable space for inhabitants inside, allowing enough room for a fire to be built and for the fire's smoke to clear and not build up.
Poles
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Straight poles are used to form the framework of the teepee, according to the Manataka American Indian Council, which notes that a minimum of 12 poles is necessary to create a framework that is strong enough to support the canvas exterior. The poles are at least 3 feet taller than the cover, poking above it.
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References
- Photo Credit teepee image by Anthony Child from Fotolia.com
