Tipi

The first step in setting up a tepee is to loosely tie together three long wooden poles (made from saplings with their branches removed). This fastening is done close to the ends of the three poles. Next, those poles are stood upright, with their unfastened ends spaced apart on the ground to form a triangle with sides about 3 m (10') long. Then, perhaps a dozen more long poles are laid onto the three primary poles. Their upper ends rest on the lashing of the first three, and the lower ends are evenly spaced to form a circle on the ground which includes the original three poles. Then the canvas tipi itself is lifted up, using a couple more long poles, and draped over the pole framework. The overlap seam is cleverly closed with wooden pins which somewhat resemble short, stubby drumsticks. The tipi was designed to enable building a fire (for heat and for cooking) in the center of the bare floor, and there is a smoke flap at the top which could be opened or closed, again with the long poles.