Tipis on the High Desert
The tipi is a transplant to the High Desert. This shelter and
home to the tribes of the Plains was introduced to the Plateau
Indian people in the early 1800s by their hunting parties who
ventured beyond the Rocky Mountains for buffalo.
Originally they were made of buffalo hide. In the reservation
era, canvas tipis were first issued by the United States Indian
Department. They continue to be used by Indian people today,
from hunting camps to Indian rodeos and pow wows, and even in
the yards of 21st century Indian families.
