2016 – 2017 Wilderness Guide Program |

Wigwams

Recently the pack finished repairing and building our Wigwams, which are primitive green season shelters. We had a feast with our Guides and Elders to celebrate the occasion, and afterward, we spent our first night inside for sleeping during the star time.

This has been no small task for the clan; we had spent well over a moon building these lodges, all while still gathering fish, firewood and wild greens. One of the grass lodges had collapsed from the weight of the last white season’s snow. We completely dismantled the wigwam, salvaging what materials we could, and rebuilt it from the ground up.

We leveled the ground and measured the center point of the dome structure (actually this is a 5/8 sphere, as the poles for the frame get dug significantly into the Earth, which adds stability as well as space inside). We then picked a southeast-facing doorway to get the most sunlight, and it is conveniently the direction to our hearth.

We next gathered maple saplings, spruce root, and birch bark, as well as processing deer hides into rawhide cordage. We gathered two dozen saplings, using the best 16 to create the frame. These were the “fingers” of the wigwam going up and over the dome. With some tweaking into shape, we tied it together with the root and rawhide cordage.

Next, more saplings are tied on around the dome, called the weavers”. After these weavers are secured, we dug a hand’s length trench around to put birch bark underground as a moisture barrier. Now we cover the structure with grass bundles by tying them to the weavers from the bottom up.

The grass is shingled to shed rainwater and must be steeper than 45 degrees to function properly.

Lodge after grass relaxed next to the second grass lodge.

Once the grass was done, we had some finishing touches such as creating a door for mosquitoes and patching small openings with more grass. With minor maintenance on the other two lodges, we ditched our tarps and tents and moved on in!

This is our third lodge, Cedar Bark sides with a Birch Bark top.

Losing our tents also meant losing some privacy, as our pack is six members, so we have two living in each lodge, with space for more as guests and visitors could come at any time, without any warning, such is the native way, the way of our ancestors.

We paired up in a way to create potentially challenging matches so we may grow as individuals as well as get closer as a pack. We have been living the wigwam life for over half a moon now, and so far, so good. We have an awesome pack!