Tipi Cover No Fit

[DCP]

Maybe this is too simple of a response. . . next time you tie your tripod, lower the lashing on the door pole. Once you have set up your lodge "perfectly," notch your tripod poles so you know where to lash them in the future. OR, maybe your lodge wasn't cut correctly to begin with . . .

Doks'a

[Louis Garcia]

Tipi Cover No Fit

I only set up the family tipi once or twice a year. Once at home to check it out and once at the pow-wow grounds.
I have a question.
I use the standard three pole base, two poles down the middle of the cover and one by the door.
However then the cover goes on the door pole is always too long.
What am I doing wrong?

[tipis]

Here is another thing you can do and I do it all the time. Measure the new tie point and write it down. I usually take a picture of my lodge on first set up when I have not done it for a while to see what I can change for next time. With these new digetal cameras you can print out the photo, write the dimention down to keep or change the next time anddddddddddd promptly put it in a safe place you will never think to look for again until that next time and have to start all over.
Seriously, I do have written down the dimensions for the tri-pods of all my tipis, so if I am not using my poles or something happens and I have to switch poles out, I have a good referance point to start with. I keep them on a laminated card in my wallet.


tipis. :p

[Tree]

She:kon:
I set up tipis all the time here in Manitoba and elsewhere. Funny how stressful it is for a Mohawk to do that, we want to make everything look like a Longhouse. ha ha ha.

The first question I always ask when setting up a strange tipi( believe me, some are stranger than others) is what style it is. There are different ways to set up the tie poles depending on what style of tipi you use. Then I lay the tipi out on the ground so that it is in a huge semicircle and fold the tipi in half so that each side of the door opening is together. If it is a Lakota Style lodge then I take two tie poles and lay them next to the tipi so they run from the back at the ground level to the smoke hole at the top.

I believe, for looks, the poles should be long enough so when the lodge stands two thirds of the poles length will be inside and one third outside above the smoke hole. There should also be ties at the top of the covering to tie the lodge cover onto the lifting pole.

Next take the door pole and lay it next to the tipi so that at the top it is laying on top of the other two poles. Pull the pole in at the bottom a few inches so the base of the pole is shorter than the skirt or lodge covering. Tie your poles and raise them so your poles stand in the north, south and east door pole. If you stand it right you will have a fork at the top above the tie, facing the east. This is where, as I am sure you know, the majority of your poles will be placed. Start on the right side and place your poles until your reach the north pole. Then start on the left and place your poles until you reach the south pole. At the back then you should be able to place poles starting from the left as you face the front of the tipi, skip a place for the lifting pole and put your last pole or two from the right side and then after tying the lodge skirt to the lifting pole, put the lifting pole in place. Fasten the skirt at the front and then go inside and start moving your poles out. Stake it down, fix your flap poles and you are in business. I have never had a lodge go up that I had problems with when I have done it this way. It usually takes me about 20 minutes or less to put up a lodge.

On the tipis I put up I always put prayer cloths in the tops of the poles, but don't over do it, Just a thin strip usually about three feet long will do. Some tipis I have seen they put a colored prayer cloth in each direction.

As for women setting up the lodge. It should be done that way but hardly anyone knows how to do that anymore. So maybe get some people together and teach them how. I also do a teaching on tipi etiquette.

For those who may want to question or ask where I was taught. I was taught how to set up lodges by the Hart family in Oklahoma. They are Southern Cheyenne and live in Clinton, Oklahoma. I was also taught by some of the Cheyenne's in Montana. They all use the Lakota style lodge. Take care and good luck.

[ June 27, 2001: Message edited by: Tree ]

[Louis Garcia]

Tree:
thanks for the nice long description on setting up a tipi.
We set them up the same here.
Tree and Tipi's suggestion of shorting the door pole will be my next try.
I have to set one up as a lesson here at the college.
I remember thirty years ago setting up a tipi at a pow-wow. A grandma was watching me. She had me take it down and set it up exactly opposite of what Laubin has in his book. The door pole was on the right (north) side of the entrance.
Also the old timers would just dig a long pole in the ground.
Thank you everyone,
Louie

[Tree]

She:kon,
Yeah digging a hole and trying to bury the door pole works too. ha ha ha. Take care. Onen.