Mark’s Tepee

My friend, Mark, was born into the wrong century.  By all accounts, he should have been born into the era of mountain men and horseback explorations of the American West.  Mark has a keen interest in many crafts and “technologies” from that era.  Among his most treasured belongings are two canvas tepees.  The tepees are constructed in the style of the Sioux Nation.

This is the weekend our 40^th high school class reunion: Helena High, graduating class of 1974.  As part of the celebration, a bunch of us—we referred to ourselves as “the group” back in high school—gathered at Mark’s place overlooking the valley and fully constructed his biggest tepee for our own private gathering.

The construction of a tepee is somewhat technical, beginning with hoisting the three tripod poles and then placing the other poles just so to fashion a circular base.  Among the considerations, is assuring that the cover is not too far off the ground at the bottom and that the front can be easily laced together.  Once the cover fits just so, the front is laced together with willow sticks and stakes are driven around the perimeter to anchor the tepee against all weather.

The photographs of the tepee-raising were taken with my twice-as-smarter-than-me phone.

 

--Mitchell Hegman