Migratory Communities – Tipis were Mobile Homes
Nations that moved around a lot, or migratory communities, followed food sources freeze/thaw patterns. They moved to follow the hunt, needing to be ready to move from one site to another quickly. Anyone who has ever moved their household more than once knows the importance of packing light. Tipis are a vital, portable, and famous part of the Plains culture. Animals would carry the wood framing beams from one place to another. Skins, popular with Plains nations, could be folded up and carried on the travois. Once at the new site, there was no need to hunt around for a new tipi covering, it was ready for use. Other communities used foliage like reeds, brush, or bark, sustainable materials easily tossed aside and replaced at the next destination. It was a model of efficiency. It had to be, or packing and moving would slow down the whole group.