Key Concepts

 

A tipi was traditionally used as a home, school, storage area, and ceremonial meeting area.

A tipi incorporates several shapes including the triangle, circle, and cone.

A tipi was traditionally constructed from natural materials including long poles, sinew thread, rawhide lashings, hide coverings, tree branch fastening pins; and rocks or stakes to anchor the tipi.

Tipi poles framed a portable shelter and supported goods on a travois.

Tipi poles represent Aboriginal values (see Plains Indian Tipi diagram).

 

Plan for the Tipi Session guided by Host

 

Assemble around the Storytelling Circle.

Learn about tipi use and construction.

Review the key concepts.

Participate in the tipi raising.

Recall the walk down the Blue Path of the People to the tipi display.

Learn why the size of the tipi has changed over time.

Say Megwich (Salteaux) "Thank you" to your host.

Related Curriculum

 

Review the importance of the family

Show how needs are met in different family structures (social studies)

Explore similarities and differences among shapes & sizes (math)

Review how animals and plants were used (science)

 

Site Features

 

Story-telling circle

Help raise tipi

Hike Blue Path of the People to outdoor tipi display

4 tipi shapes on the exhibit roof

Tipi shapes in the playground area

 

Before the Visit

 

Read A House is a House for Me. Discuss peoples' homes. Differentiate between housing wants and needs.

Classify homes from various cultures past and present, using a variety of categories (e.g., materials, shapes, etc.).

Compare similarities and differences of appearance, use, and materials, between our homes today and those examined.

 

Cultural Note

 

The circular structure of a tipi is a symbol of connectedness.

Aboriginal people strive to live in harmony with one another and with all creation around them in this circle of life. In a circle no one is above another. There is a sense of belonging to a family, to a community and to roots in a national identity (adapted from The Tipi, Saskatchewan Cultural College, no date).

Pre-European-contact dwellings were smaller, dog-day tipis. The poles were pulled by dogs. Following the arrival of the European horse the larger homes were classified as horse-day tipis. The Cree word, Mistatim "horse" means large dog.

Tipi poles represent Plains Cree values (see Plains Cree Tipi diagram, pg. 35).

Tipi coverings were designed and painted to reflect family experiences, stories or dreams.

 

After the Visit

 

Relate tipi to triangle, circle, and cone.

Construct tipi models from drinking straws, glue, string, and crumbled brown paper coverings representing animal hide. Arrange a tipi village.

Discuss how Aboriginal people decorated tipis. What symbols were used? When and how do we use lines, circles and points as symbols of communication?

Decorate brown paper tipi coverings showing record of student experience at Wanuskewin.

Create tipi (stained-glass) mobiles decorated with animal, symbolic designs, or geometric patterns. Dip in vegetable oil. Let dry. Suspend in well -lit windows.

Raise a tipi at school in any large space for story telling and role plays.