Lodges and Wigwams

Spherical Lodge - Wigw8m

The spherical lodge was usually used for one family or a small number 4-12) of people. This type of lodge was also used for ceremonies for healing and sweats. The typical diameter of these was between 8 to 14 feet with center heights of 4 to 8 feet.

Sweat lodges, Adal8mpsazimek, were usually 10 to 12 feet in diameter by 3 to 4 feet in height. Fixed location Sweat Lodges, Atal8mpsazimek, were made from rock and earth at very special locations. Some rare examples of these still exist in New England.

With the Wigw8m type of lodge it is more important to layout the base circle. Using the center stake, cordage, and marking stick, strike a mark on the ground for the circle. For your first lodge try making the overall side to side diameter about three paces, about 10 feet. Facing east and then west place two small marking stakes on each side of the circle, about a pace apart (3 feet) along the circle mark. Do this again facing north and south. If you do this right you will have placed 8 stakes that form parallel lines going east-west and north-south from side to side of the circle. In the spaces between the corners of these (the northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest positions) place one stake each. You should now have 12 equally spaced stakes around the circle that you marked on the ground.

At this time you should dig out a small (1 to 2 feet in diameter by 6 inches deep) hole in the center. This will be the lodge fire pit or the hole for placing the sweat ceremony rocks.

Using the larger stakes made from the sapling cutting, drive a hole in the ground at each of the small marking stakes. These holes should be about 12 inches deep and should be tilled slightly away from the center of the lodge. An offering and prayer should be made to Mother Earth for each hole you drive into the ground.

Once you have all the holes made, select four saplings. Place these in the east-west holes. Drive them in the holes as deep as possible. If you did the holes right the poles will stand up on their own and will be pointed slightly outward. To continue the setup you should have the help of another two people. Have one person on each side of the (first - east-west, second north-south) circle. Have them place their back to each opposite pole. Help pull and hold the top over their back and downward towards the opposite side.

Do the same on the opposite side. When the two ends or tops are down within reach in the center, take the two ends and twist them together. This will form the curved frame of the Wigwam. Adjust center height by changing the length of the poles. Once you have the right shape and height, twist the poles together as many times as they will allow. You may also use cordage to tie wrap them as well.

Do the same process for the next pair of east-west poles. Continue this process to the north-south poles and tie them together where the east-west poles cross the north-south poles. Finish the poles from the cross corners northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast in the same way and tie the poles together where they across one another.

If you adjust the poles properly the top center of the frame will form a true square with a cross from corner to corner. Before all the cross joints are wrapped and tied make sure that all of the poles and rings are adjusted properly. The finished frame will look like an upside down basket or a pop-up dome tent.

The two poles on the east should be about 3 feet apart, this will be the door opening. Determine the height of the door opening and weave a ring of smaller branches from pole to pole at this height until a full ring is made. Next make a similar ring about 6 inches up from the ground starting from each side of the door opening (leave the door opening - open). Complete a ring about mid-way between these two rings in the same fashion.

Above the door ring complete another full ring about mid-way from the top of the door to the top of the structure. As required, tie all the stick and pole joints with cordage to make it stronger. Cover the frame with the bark or canvas and secure the covering in place. Leave a flap for the door opening and a top-center opening for the fire smoke. For a sweat lodge the door opening and entire lodge must be completely sealed and light- proof.

Conical Lodge - Cone Wigwam

Conical lodges looked like the western tepees, with the primary difference being that the covering was made with rolls of bark instead of buffalo hides. The diameter of these was typically 8 to 16 feet with center heights of 10 to 20 feet. The length of the poles used will determine the workable diameter and height of this type of lodge.

To assemble this type of lodge you will need to gather at least 12 poles of approximately the same diameter and length. Approximately 2 feet from the top of the poles you will need to tie or lash them together with rope or cordage. With help you will set the poles upright and will equally space the pole ends into a circle. Once you establish the approximate diameter to height that you want, you may want to strike a circle mark using a center point stake and a set length of cordage that you move around the circle to get an equal mark for each pole.

The pole to pole spacing should be about 3 feet apart at the ground level. Make sure to space the poles so that two poles will frame the door opening to face the east. A horizontal ring of smaller saplings can be woven between the upright poles. The height of this ring should be 4 to 5 feet to create the top of the door opening.

A base ring about 6 inches from the ground going around from each side of the door opening and additional horizontal rings are helpful to stiffen the structure and outer covering.

Cover the lodge from the bottom up with the bark so that the next layer over-laps the lower one. If you us canvas, wrap it with one sheet starting at the door flap and opening. The top should be left open for the fire smoke.

Long-House

The Long-House is a elongated variation of the spherical Wigwam. As in the site selection for the other lodges, you will need enough area to layout the lodge, a minimum of 20 by 40 feet is needed.

The amount and length of poles needed will vary with the overall length of and size of the Long-House. Since you will want the ability to walk the length of the lodge you will need to try for a center height of 6 to 8 feet and a width between 10 to 12 feet. This height and width will require poles that are at least 15 feet long.

To layout this lodge make a center line mark to the length of the lodge running east-west. Start with a small lodge 12 feet wide by 18 feet in length. From the center line make parallel side lines of the same length 6 feet away. Along these lines place small stakes every 2 feet. This will be the spacing for the poles.

Using the larger stakes made from the sapling cutting, drive a hole in the ground at each of the small marking stakes. These holes should be about 12 inches deep and should be tilled slightly away from the center of the lodge. An offering and prayer should be made to Mother Earth for each hole you drive into the ground.

Once the holes are completed, select two poles. Drive them in the holes as deep as possible. If you did the holes right the poles will stand up on their own and will be pointed slightly outward.

To continue the setup you should have the help of another two people. Have one person on each side of the lodge layout. Have them place their back to each opposite pole. Help pull and hold the top over their back and downward towards the opposite side. Do the same on the opposite side.

When the two ends or tops are down within reach in the center, take the two ends and twist them together. This will form the curved frame of the Long-House. Adjust center height by changing the length of the poles.

Once you have the right shape and height, twist the poles together as many times as they will allow. You may also use cordage to tie wrap them as well. Do the same process for the next pair of poles. Continue this process until all of the side poles are assembled. The frame will look like a series of hoops.

At the east and west ends a door frame will be assembled. To do this go back to the center line mark, extend the mark east and west another 3 feet. From the center line place a mark stakes left and right of the center line, make this opening about 3 feet wide. Put and drive poles in each hole.

As in the way that the other poles were bent, bend these poles down to the height of the other pole hoops. Weave the end of these poles over and under each hoop as cross them. Adjust each crossing so that these poles form two parallel top ridge poles. Tie each crossing with cordage as required. The poles from the east and west ends will not be long enough to reach the middle, Additional poles must be woven along the same line that the east-west poles are assembled. Wrap and tie these poles together to make a strong set of top center ridge poles.

Determine the height of the door opening and weave a ring of smaller branches from pole to pole at this height until a full ring is made. Next make a similar ring about 6 inches up from the ground starting from each side of the door openings (leave the door openings - open). Complete a ring about mid-way between these two rings in the same fashion.

Above the door rings complete another full ring about mid- way from the top of the doors to the top of the structure. As required, tie all the stick and pole joints with cordage to make it stronger. Cover the frame with the bark or canvas and secure the covering in place. Leave a flaps for the door openings and a top- center opening for the fire smoke.

At this time you should dig out a small (1 to 2 feet in diameter by 6 inches deep) hole in the center.

Offerings and prayers should be made to Mother Earth for the use of the land for the lodge and fire pit.

When using the Long-House lodge the men enter through the eastern door and the women enter through the west door. The men sit in the eastern end facing the fire to the west. The women sit in the western end facing the fire to the east.