Old West Tipis

We use lodgepole pine for the tipi poles and offer two grades, grade one the
pole is peeled, sanded, tapered, and oiled with linseed oil, grade two the pole is peeled
only. We have our own unique set-up technique that guarantees a near perfect setup every
time. We have combined several techniques learned from the elders into our own uniform system that is (nearly) foolproof. In the plateau system used by the Nez Perce the foundation is either three pole or four pole. We have adopted the four pole as the most logical, symmetrical, practical and poetic. Our system is fast, we can put up our own
l5’ tipi in ten minutes, in the daylight or the dark.

The set up is explained in our setup instructional video. Our stakes are made from the same source as the old time Indians in the plateau made them: Columbian Hawthorne, called by the Nez Perces, sisnim. This is a heavy dense wood that is stiff and thorny and
not at all easy to gather or carve but they are tough and last for many years and look great.

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The diameter of our tipi is measured from the back lift pole to the front door poles. Our tipis are cut so that the area in the back is steeper than the front. The front area is slanted more, therefore, offering more space in the front. The diameter of the floor is not uniform but typically more oval. The measurement is longer front to back than side to side, for example our 16 foot tipi is slightly more than 16 feet from the back lift pole to the door but is a little less than 16 feet from side to side. We use 11.45 oz. Sunforger canvas for all our tipis except the children’s play tipi.
	We use lodgepole pine for the tipi poles and offer two grades, grade one the pole is peeled, sanded, tapered, and oiled with linseed oil, grade two the pole is peeled only. We have our own unique set-up technique that guarantees a near perfect setup every time. We have combined several techniques learned from the elders into our own uniform system that is (nearly) foolproof. In the plateau system used by the Nez Perce the foundation is either three pole or four pole. We have adopted the four pole as the most logical, symmetrical, practical and poetic. Our system is fast, we can put up our own l5’ tipi in ten minutes, in the daylight or the dark. The set up is explained in our setup instructional video. Our stakes are made from the same source as the old time Indians in the plateau made them: Columbian Hawthorne, called by the Nez Perces, sisnim. This is a heavy dense wood that is stiff and thorny and not at all easy to gather or carve but they are tough and last for many years and look great. Home \| About Us \| Contact Us \| Our Policy Copyright © 2005 Old West Tipis. All rights reserved. Website Design by Oro Azul