How To Build A Teepee

By: Madelyn Dinger

How To Build A Teepee

History and Use of the Teepee

• The Apache Native Americans were people to have used the teepee’s many years ago. They were used as shelter and they also were used to be the setting for ceremonial purposes.

• Residential teepees were used with meaning. The doors were made to face the east, and there was a seat of power on the western wall.

• The Apache would travel around a lot and would set these up and take them down and use these as “mobile homes”.

Step 1

• The first thing that you will have to do is hunt. The apache tribe used buffalo.

• Now you will have to skin the buffalo and collect the hides and leave them to dry.

• The hides of the buffalo are the things you will need as the main part of the teepee.

Step 2• For step two, you must now

collect about 15 long wooden poles That are about 20 ft long.

• As well as collecting logs you will need to have strong, durable ropes.

• You must also gather some wooden floor boards so you will not have to sleep on the regular floor.

Once you have collected the hides, polls, wooden floor boards, and the ropes, you are ready to start constructing your teepee!

Step 3• Now that you have all the

supplies that you need to construct your teepee, you must come up with some ground work.

• As seen in the picture in the right, you must start with a tripod.

• Then carefully and slowly keep adding on a pole.

• Be sure to tie the poles together while setting them up.

Step 4• After you are done stetting up

the poles in step three, your product should look like the figure to the right.

• The circle in the middle is an optional fireplace.

• Be sure to tighten the ropes and leave about two feet of rope loose. You will need this rope later.

• Also you must remember to firmly place the ends of the poles in the ground, not too far in, but just be sure the teepee will last.

Step 5• Now, remember the buffalo

you hunted, skinned, and let dry? Well it time to use that!

• You can either decorate the hides after they are dried and sewn together. Or you can just let the teepee have no design.

• The picture to the right is an example of what the Plains Indian Teepee’s would look like.

Step 6

• On your last pole you will have to attach your buffalo hides on. – As seen on the figure to the

right, you must punch in a hole through the top , and bottom of your buffalo hide and string a rope through them, and tighten it good so the hide will not come off.

Step 7

• Now, you must tighten the rest of the two foot rope that you have left from step four, around the top of your teepee.

• Now slowly wrap the buffalo hide around your poles so that barely any area of your teepee skeleton is exposed.

• You will need a small opening for your door though.

CONGRADULATIONS!!! You have successfully made your very own Teepee!

Step 8

• To firmly secure your teepee into the ground, use nails or wooden stakes and drive them through the floor. This part is optional to have a door. If you have a long strip of hide left over, you may hang this down your teepee using small poles. Congratulations, you have completed making your teepee!!!

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