Teepee (Tipi)

TEEPEE (TIPI) -  For the Plains Indians, the teepee was more than just a home—it was a sacred space.  It was placed so that the door would face the rising sun in the east, with the westerly winds to the back.  The circle, a sacred symbol of the inter-connectedness of all things, is the foundation of the teepee.  The floor symbolized the earth and the walls the sky.  A small altar built of stone or earth was used for burning incense during prayer times. Inside and outside walls could be painted with symbolic designs—spirit beings, ancestors, and honors gained in battle were common.