Tipis

Portable buffalo hide tents, known as tipi in the Sioux language, were an important adaptation to a highly mobile prairie lifestyle made possible by horses and free roaming buffalo. After the buffalo were nearly driven to extinction, native people used cow hide or canvas to create their homes. Government policies designed to keep native people rooted in place on the reservation soon made tipis unnecessary for residence, but they continue to be used for Native American Church ceremonies as well as traveling to pow wows. This great card comes from Canada and features First Nation tipis located near Calgary, Alberta.