answersLogoWhite

0

Crow tipis (ashi in Crow) typically used muchlonger poles than in other tribes, so that the finished tent had almost an hour-glass shape with the cover over the lower part.

The Crows, unlike many other tribes, used a foundation of 4 poles tied together as the support for the entire tent. These poles were lodgepole pines from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Having erected the 4 supporting poles, others were then rested loose against them - perhaps between 20 and 30 poles in total.

The semi-circular cover would be made from many full-sized buffalo cow hides tanned using the brains of the same animals - brain contains an oil which effectively preserves the leather and softens it to some extent. Many women would work together making a cover, using buffalo sinew as the sewing thread as it needs no needles, simply an awl to make holes. Additional sections at the front top edge served as smoke flaps.

The final pole to be put in place had the cover attached to it, so all that had to be done was to pull the front edges into place and pin them together with sharp wooden pins about a foot long.

Inside the ashi would be fixed a kind of curtain all around the lower section of the walls to provide insulation and keep damp out.

A few people could erect or dismantle the ashi in just a few minutes.

See links below for images:

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?