A teepee is a traditional tent made by Native Americans and some Indian communities. The tent is conical in shape and is made from poles that are intertwined at the top and covered using buffalo skin. The poles are fastened by tying the top part with a rope especially during the cold seasons. They are also fastened during the windy seasons with pegs on the floor. A teepee can be made by following a very simple procedure once the sticks and the ‘hide’ is put together as well as all the necessary tools. Currently, the teepee can be made using a canvas material or from tree branches and leaves. 109
Making a teepee from branches and leaves
- Find an appropriate location for the teepee.
- Make the frame of the teepee by tying several long sticks at one end using vines that are very strong. Fan out the bottom of the sticks after you have made them stand vertically and push them into the ground in order to make them stable.
- Make a small opening that will serve as a door to enter the teepee.
- Weave branches of medium sizes into the ready frame tightly. Ensure that all the spaces between the sticks are filled using leafy branches tall grass, small branches of pine trees and leaves.
- To make a floor, lay soft pine branches on the floor of the teepee and place soft leaves on the pine branches.
- To make a door, weave leaves, tall grass and leaves as well as branches of pine trees together to make one wide branch. The door made is placed on the entrance of the teepee once a person is inside it.
Making a tepee from canvas material
- The canvas is trimmed into a half circle with a length of about 10 feet. Two pieces that are semicircles should be cut in this way.
- Cut out two flaps at the centre of the canvas and cut out a space for the door way that is semicircle in shape from both pieces of canvas. This makes a round door once the two pieces are put together.
- At the ends cut out to make the door, hem into pockets using additional pieces of canvas and put sticks through the pockets made. The sticks should hold some weight in order to keep the door closed. The canvas should then be hemmed into the main piece of canvas making the teepee.
- Make pouches to be fixed at the apex of the smoke flaps. An additional piece of canvas can be used to support the smoke flaps.
- Use at least twelve poles to make a tripod and tie them at the point where they meet. Add the poles onto the frame made to seal the spaces left to make a conical shape.
- Cover the tripod made with the canvas material to successfully complete the teepee.
- This tent can now be used and can accommodate two to three people at one time.
Depending on ones preference the teepee can be made from either canvas material or branches and leave.