Native American Dwellings
Native American Dwellings
Katie Nguyen
Civics
Coach Kelly
Period 3
Hundreds of years ago, America’s first people lived in a variety of dwellings. Their homes depend geographically from where they live. Each Indian tribe needed a housing that would fit their lifestyle and climate. Because North America is such a big continent, each tribe had to adapt to different weather and environments, ranging from the Arizona deserts of 120 degree Fahrenheit, to the Alaskan tundra of -50 degree Fahrenheit. Naturally, the Native Americans developed different types of dwellings to survive in these different environments. Some tribes were nomadic – moving frequently from place to place – so they needed houses that were portable and easy to build. In this research you will learn about the different type of houses the Native Americans lived in.
Wigwams
Wigwams are domed shaped shelters that were covered with animal skins or woven mats. They were a favorite of the Algonquin tribes of the northeast. Some wigwams were conical shaped like a tipi, while others were rounded in shape. Wigwams are sometimes known as birch bark houses. The house is very small, usually 8 to 10 feet tall. To build a wigwam, the builder’s first job is to trace and outline on the ground and dig holes along it. The poles to make the frame would be set into the holes. The poles were the stripped trunks of flexible young trees. Each pole had a partner directly across from it, and the pairs were curved to meet at the top in the shape of an arch. Each pair is then tied together with basswood strips. Once the frame was secure, the cover was put on.
With the frames in place, you then have to attach the coverings. The covering was made up of layers to keep them warm during the winter. The inner layer usually consists of sheets of birch or elm bark, animal hides, or woven leaves, which the women stitched together with strips of basswood. The roof is made of overlapping sheets of bark, which were lightweight
Katie Nguyen
Civics
Coach Kelly
Period 3
Hundreds of years ago, America’s first people lived in a variety of dwellings. Their homes depend geographically from where they live. Each Indian tribe needed a housing that would fit their lifestyle and climate. Because North America is such a big continent, each tribe had to adapt to different weather and environments, ranging from the Arizona deserts of 120 degree Fahrenheit, to the Alaskan tundra of -50 degree Fahrenheit. Naturally, the Native Americans developed different types of dwellings to survive in these different environments. Some tribes were nomadic – moving frequently from place to place – so they needed houses that were portable and easy to build. In this research you will learn about the different type of houses the Native Americans lived in.
Wigwams
Wigwams are domed shaped shelters that were covered with animal skins or woven mats. They were a favorite of the Algonquin tribes of the northeast. Some wigwams were conical shaped like a tipi, while others were rounded in shape. Wigwams are sometimes known as birch bark houses. The house is very small, usually 8 to 10 feet tall. To build a wigwam, the builder’s first job is to trace and outline on the ground and dig holes along it. The poles to make the frame would be set into the holes. The poles were the stripped trunks of flexible young trees. Each pole had a partner directly across from it, and the pairs were curved to meet at the top in the shape of an arch. Each pair is then tied together with basswood strips. Once the frame was secure, the cover was put on.
With the frames in place, you then have to attach the coverings. The covering was made up of layers to keep them warm during the winter. The inner layer usually consists of sheets of birch or elm bark, animal hides, or woven leaves, which the women stitched together with strips of basswood. The roof is made of overlapping sheets of bark, which were lightweight