Seven Fun and Interesting Facts About Teepees

“A conical tent usually consisting of skins” is how Webster’s dictionary defines “teepee.” But for Native Americans, teepees are an important part of culture and history. For outdoor enthusiasts, teepees are a home away from home. At Huberwoods, teepees are just one of many uses for our wooden teepee poles in Utah. No matter what your interest or experience level with teepees may be, here are a few fun facts about teepees that we think will interest you.

Teepee lifestyle

Why live in a teepee? Because it best suits your lifestyle! For Native Americans, teepees were the ideal dwellings to fit their nomadic lifestyle. Many tribes followed buffalo herds, so having a portable home was ideal for the way they lived.

Teepee poles

Most teepees required long wooden poles, often 15 feet in length or more, for construction. Finding wooden poles that were long enough for teepees wasn’t always easy. In fact, some people became highly skilled in the cutting and fashioning of long, sturdy teepee poles, and these became a sought-after commodity.

Teepee visits

How do you go visiting your neighbors when there are no doors? What are the rules? Well, if you lived in a teepee and felt like having company, you would just leave the entrance flap open. An open flap was an open invitation for visitors. A closed flap meant that guests needed to announce themselves and wait for an invitation before entering.

Teepee setup

Setting up the teepees was actually the responsibility of the women in the tribe. In fact, they were in charge of building it, setting it up and dismantling it for transportation. And inside the teepee, the woman’s word was law. If the woman said, “Go to sleep,” everyone in the teepee either went to sleep or left the teepee.

Teepee circles

Teepees were often set up in a circle, and family groups set up next to each other. Each woman set up her teepee in the same position in relation to her neighbors and family every time they moved. This was done for two reasons. One was for protection, and the other was based on a belief that the circle represented the circle of life.

Teepee décor

Teepees were most often made with buffalo skins. These skins were painted with different symbols and pictures to reflect the family that lived there. Some of these symbols were also painted on the outside of teepees to ward off evil.

Teepees today

Teepees are rarely used as a primary dwelling any longer, but they are still frequently used for other things. Native Americans still use teepees when taking part in cultural events and ceremonies. Some outdoor enthusiasts also enjoy living out of a teepee. Backyard and even indoor teepees are really popular with kids as well!

Are you interested in building a teepee? Huberwoods can help! We are experienced logging contractors and carry a variety of wood materials, including wooden teepee poles in Utah. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today!

Categorised in: Teepee Poles

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