The Indian Tipi: Its History, Construction, and Use

by Reginald Laubin and Gladys Laubin

Book Overview

When the first edition of this book was published in 1957, the art of making a tipi was almost lost, even among American Indians. Since that time a tremendous resurgence of interest in the Indian way of life has occurred, resurgence due in part, at least, to the Laubins' life-long efforts at preservation and interpretation of Indian culture. As The Indian Tipi makes obvious, the American Indian is both a practical person and a natural artist. Indian...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806122366
• ISBN13: 9780806122366
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

I was born to late!!!

Very interesting knowledge!!! I have been interested in Native American Indians life style since I was a child. I am now 73 and still have the same interest. As a U.S. MARINE I served with Indians in Vietnam. I found them to be right there with you. Brave warriors. It's a shame what these people have and are still going through. Remember this was their land first.

The Indian Tipi; Its History Construction and Use

What a wonderful and colorful book of historial importance and current instruction. We really enjoyed this book and now have a tipi of our own. With the well written instructions I know we will not have a problem constructing our authentic tipi. We highly recommend this book.

excellent resource!

using this book helped me immensely when it came time to raise my own tipi! using only the book and my woefully average construction skills, i easily put up my 22 foot diameter tipi in the northern california woods in a few hours with minimal assistance, the first try!the other parts of the book offer fascinating aspects related to tipi living, history and culture. a must read for any tipi enthusiast!great!heartLove, the electric tipi hippy!

Allows us to feel like true aficionadoes

The wealth of information included by the Laubins, and their heartfelt respect for the American Indian, permeate this book. Many tipi construction books these days are written by would-be hippies--but the Laubins come across as the real thing. They had real contact with the tribes who made the various designs and they understood the distinctions between them. Better yet they have done an excellent job at getting these techniques across to the reader. An excellent resource for our business and home pursuits alike and the only book on the subject we recommend.

Excellent and very complete.

Besides providing all necessary details on the materials, construction, setting up, and maintenance of a tipi, this book also provides comparisons with alternate designs and why one might be better than another, and gives advice on varying the size to fit your needs. It provides all the essentials, including adjustments for various seasons and types of weather (rain, snow, and wind), layout of living and sleeping space, furniture, storage of supplies, fire building, cooking, recipes, brain tanning, making parfleche containers, and moccasins. Plus it includes a few words about a native ceremony to properly dedicate the new lodge, and describes tipi etiquette for hosts and visitors. Lots of photos, drawings and detailed diagrams are provided.

Overall good book

This was an overall good book. If you have ever wanted to live someplace besides a "conventinal home" this is the only book you will need to read. It tells you how to live in a tent or in the woods, and how to have a good experince doing it. This is a good book for the occaisainal camper, or the frequent outdoors person. This is also a book that can be read again and again.