On this page you will find contest information for judging tipis.  It is a very comprehensive list of information to help the novice and expert look at lodges in a more discerning manner.  These are NOT rules, but GUIDELINES only.  You can change them to fit your needs or see what you might want to add to your tipi.  These guidelines have been used  to help judge the National Tipi Competition since 1990 and other encampments around the country. They are based on 35 years of research on  written/photographs/oral history of  tribal tipis and the more contemporary ideas of lodges.   And on notes and conversations with other learned tipi buffs (Native and nonnative) who have studied the material culture of teepees.   If you have any questions or suggestions, e-mail me.

What you do NOT  want to find in a traditional tipi.  

1.  Mandela's and dream catchers.  Not part of a traditional tipi or camp.  Mandellas came out of   the 1960's.

2.  Lawn chairs.

3.  Plank wood backrests.

4.  Modern cooking equipment.

5.  Leg bone lacing pins.  Lacing pins were wood and not much bigger than a #2 pencil in thickness.

6.  Very decorated pegs.

7.  Highly decorated streamers.

8.  Cow or buffalo skulls or any skulls for that matter.  The use of the Buffalo skull is for the Sun Dance

    ceremony and not usually an everyday item in or around a tipi.  These are ceremonial and not generally for

    the public view.

9.  Awning attached to the front of a tipi.  This is a Buckskinner item that has just come around in the last 20

     years or so.

10.  Any modern materials.  Very interpretive area.

11.  Large rawhide boxes.  The Sioux were the only ones who had the boxes and those came around in the

       1870's or so.  Sizes were about 15"x15"x18" or so.  There were some other type boxes, but they are special

       folded rawhide in the shape of a box.  Very rare.

12.  Large wrought iron cook sets inside the tipi.  Remember, you are cooking in your bedroom/living room.

13.  Lots of items hanging around the tipi. 

These are only here to make you think.  Do your own research.  Be sure they are first person.  That means, original material, not a copy or hear say.  There are exceptions to every rule, but don’t make the exception, the rule. 

Supplemental Information in judging Tipis:

1.  Doors of tipis should be open for judging.

2.  Judges can ask questions of the tipi owner.  Some questions can be about the

    purpose of materials in the lodge, time period portrayed, type of tipi, etc.

3.  There are about 6 or so main time periods of tipis seen in competition.  Time

      periods are very approximate.

I.   Traditional (1800-1860) before the main contact of white men to the

      Fur trade times of the West.  Can be brain-tanned tipis to canvas.

         II.   Reservation (1860-1890) most tribes have been moved on to reservations.

                   Very few buffalo tipis, lots more cow hide covers and lots of canvas.

        III.  Wild West Shows (1880-1920) The showing of tipis and Native American

                   culture to the world.

         IV.  Transitional (1930-1960?)  Very few tipis, but on their way back. Mostly

       Seen at powwows. 

V.  Contemporary or Modern (1960?-2000 and going.)  New traditional

                  Tipis and camps.  Interpretations of the past.

4.  People who own tipis. 

            I.   Indians-they started the lodges.

II.   Hobbyists (powwow) makes any dance look great.

         III.   Buckskinners or re-enactors who portray the fur trade era. 

            IV.  New agers.  (Crystal People)                                 

           V.   Hippies...Older version of the New agers.

         VI.    Mother earthers.  Back to the land people.  (Hippies who got older.)

        VII.   ABOS...just discovered the old stuff...deal in old weapons and living.

(Will run into the other groups and fit right in.)

       VIII.   Boy Scouts...they will either die out or join the other groups when

                     becoming an adult.

          IX.  Campers...love to just use the tipi for what it is.

X.   People who live full time in a tipi.  They either are building a house or

       just love the outdoors or are writing a book on living in a tipi.

         XI.   Buffalo Days re-enactors (1860-1880) new group that just started in the

       last 10 years.  Love to play adult Indians and Cowboys, but then, so do I.

        XII.  Weekend warrior, owns a tipi and only puts it up about 1 to 5 times a

          year, if he or she is lucky.  They can fit into any group, but they love

                    that lodge and enjoy what time they spend camping.