The Tipi and Plains Indians: Functional Housing and Community Development
The tipi has been misrepresented as a universal symbol of indigenous architecture, but it was the Plains Indians who employed as a primary dwelling.
As Paleo-Indian bands moved throughout the western fringes of North America, they branched out and developed unique cultural traits. Some of these bands remained nomadic while others settled into regions that were as geographically diverse as the myriad language families of the tribes themselves. Despite their significant differences, both nomadic and sedentary tribes shared a common need to develop some form of shelter to protect themselves from the elements. Based on the climate of the region, the availability of raw materials, and their level of architectural development, indigenous tribes constructed a variety of functional dwellings. From the temporary and easily transportable lean-to to the more permanent and multi-storied pueblo, Native Americans have designed structures that matched their level of architectural development.
The design and structure of indigenous shelter was determined by climate and the availability of raw materials. The nomadic or sedentary status of the tribe was also a major factor. Nomadic tribes tended to set up their community encampments in areas that were rich in wild game and would hunt for subsistence. With the change of the season, these bands would break their camp and move on to a more suitable location. For shelter, nomadic bands constructed a variety of portable dwellings such as the lean-to and the tipi.
Next to the horse, the tipi is one of the most prominent examples of indigenous culture. It has often been misrepresented as the sole form of habitation for indigenous tribes throughout North America. The tipi was the primary dwelling of the tribes of the western plains (or, Plains Indians) but it was not a universal structure with respect to other regions. In design and function, the tipi was the most suitable habitation for both the nomadic and sedentary tribes of the western plains region. While the size and location of the Plain’s tipi often depended on the specific tribe and its social structure, the dwelling was made up of similar constituent elements.
The tipi consists of anywhere from 13 to 20 poles, each around 25 feet in length, centered around four load bearing poles. The surrounding poles are arranged in a circle around the central support structure and tied at the top so as to form a cone shape. This basic design forms the internal framework of the tipi. The outer covering of the tipi consists of patches of buffalo hide, sewn together with sinew and draped over the cone shaped frame. The outer tent is then held in place by a series of pegs at the base of the structure. At the base of the tipi, usually facing east, is the entrance to the dwelling. The door covering of the tipi consists of a single piece of buffalo hide that is attached to a special frame or tied to one of the structural poles. The earth foundation of the tipi serves as the floor for the internal dwelling. In the winter months, grass can be added around the base of the structure as a form of insulation. A typical tipi can hold up to four beds and can house and entire family. Larger families are grouped together in tipi circles.
Mark C Carnes, U.S. History. (New York: MacMillan Library Reference, 1996).
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000).
Carl Waldman, Encyclopedia of Native Tribes. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2006).