Wigwam tent

Wigwams were the dwellings used by the Algonquian Indian tribes that lived in the woodlands of Southwestern region of America. It was called a Wickiup or a Wetu as well. This traditional home dwelling was shaped as a dorm and constructed by forming a wooden frame over which woven mats or sheets of birch bark were draped and tied up with ropes of animal sinew or special ropes made from tree husks.

In some tribes, the material used to cover the wigwam structure differed from hide, mats and tree bark. Some used grass, brush, rushes or reeds as substitutes to hide or clothing material. Generally with a height of 8-10 feet, the wigwam roof is arched in to domed or conical shapes as per the resident’s preference. The curved shape of the structure is derived by sticking bendable wooden sticks to the ground over a circle perimeter and then bending the top end of the stick sideways, forming a curved wall structure for the wigwam. This curved structure is ideal for facing any adverse environmental conditions; including strong winds and lashing rains which the Native Indians sought refuge from in their wigwams.
Wigwams were governed by set family and social hierarchy. It was the male’s responsibility to form the framing of the wigwam. The most preferred material for this purpose was the young tree saplings of any strong trees. The men cut down these to a proper measure of ten to fifteen feet and bended and arched as per need. The man of the family is responsible for building the entire structure which includes the digging of holes around the perimeter of the circle to drive down the poles of the domed wigwam structure. The center of the wigwam roof is fixed to a cross beam from which a hide usually hangs suspended. To keep the wigwam waterproof in the rainy season, pieces of hide are used to cover over the outer thatching and the smoke hole located on the roof just above the fire hearth is also closed off. It was the woman’s job to keep the dwelling cozy and warm and clean. Grass and brush beddings were made and covered in hide or clothing material to keep warm during the cold winters.
Construction of a study wigwam generally took up to 3 days for a native Indian male. However, wigwams have not died out with the era of transient lifestyles of the tribal Indians. Today wigwams are back in our lives and in full blown scale! You can hire wigwam structures for camping out in style, sheltered properly from the winds and dangers which the native Indians sought refuge from. Take your family in a wonderful exploration expedition in the great woodlands and hire a modern day wigwam that is colourful and study and takes just few hours to erect, unlike the olden days. These modern wigwams are ideal for a family outing or just the two of you, if you plan to smother your loved one with some outdoor romance. The spacious and study structures are ideal for those going into nature studies with a long term plan to stay put over weeks at one place. Whatever is your outdoor camping need, a wigwam that draws inspirations from the woodland natives will certainly fulfill your camping needs to satisfaction beyond expectations. You can learn to build your own wigwam too or simply hire a wigwam from a camp hiring company.