A tipi (sometimes spelled teepee or tepee) is a cone-shaped tent made by stretching animal hides or canvas over a framework of long wooden poles. For centuries, Plains tribes like the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Blackfeet used tipis as their homes because these structures could be quickly assembled, taken apart, and moved to follow buffalo herds across the grasslands.

The design is brilliantly practical. The poles lean together at the top, creating a sturdy frame that can withstand strong prairie winds. Smoke from cooking fires escapes through an opening at the peak, which can be adjusted using two exterior flaps. The circular base and aerodynamic shape make tipis remarkably stable, even in storms. A family could pack up an entire tipi and transport it using horses or dogs pulling a travois (a frame for dragging loads).

While tipis are strongly associated with nomadic Plains tribes, not all Native American peoples lived in them. Tribes in other regions built different kinds of homes suited to their environments, like longhouses, pueblos, or wigwams. Today, some Native families still use tipis for ceremonies or gatherings, honoring the ingenuity of their ancestors.