Parts of a teepee
Glossary:
Tepee poles: Three or 4 make the basic
framework of the tepee. Long poles are prized where tall, straight trees
are scarce. Same poles become the frame of the travois when traveling.
Quiver with arrows: arrows are striped
with colored paint to mark ownership.
Medicine bag: special parfleche for
sacred items that represent things seen in the owner's visions.
Tepee lining: additional layer of
skin, often brightly painted.
Parfleches: are the closets and drawers of
the tepee.
Buffalo: skin bedding is rolled and stored
during the day.
Alter: for burning sweet grass or other
incense during ceremonial occasions.
Smoke flaps: can be adjusted to retain
heat or to ventilate.
Wooden lodge pins: are removed to fold
the tepee for traveling.
Wooden bow: is shaped by heating
and bending bowstrings are made of sinew rawhide or twisted vegetable fiber.
Shield: Some battle shields are painted with
pictures from visions which offer spiritual protection. Highly decorated
ones are too sacred for battle and can also endanger the bearer by calling
special attention to his status.
Backrest: The Plains family's easy
chair.
Cradleboard: holds the fur-wrapped
infant securely.
Woman's sewing bag: Hide pouch holds
awls, sinew thread, beads, quills, grasses, paints, small bones, and ermine
tails.
Buffalo-paunch cooking pot: contains
the day's soup of buffalo meat, wild turnips, and wild onions.