The Dacotah Prairie Museum: Traditional Native American Housing Exhibit
The Dacotah Prairie Museum holds a number of exhibits pertaining to tribes Dakota and Lakota tribes. The one that I found to be most fascinating was the Traditional Native American Housing Exhibit. In this Exhibit, the museum shows and discusses three types of housing.
The first exhibit you see is the Lakota Tipi. This dwelling is made from buffalo hide and is arranged with long branches or logs forming a conical shape for the hide to wrap around. There is a hole at the top that allows for smoke and fumes to escape, and for ventilation in the summer months. The interior would have buffalo furs and hides on the floor to soften and warm the ground, and their would often be a fire as well. I thought it was interesting due to the smallish space that was allowed inside, especially having grown up in a house where my own room was often bigger than the interior of said tipi. It made sense, however, seeing as the day to day activities of the tribes were not often spent inside the tipi, but rather outside, working, playing, hunting, learning, whatever the day brought.
The second dwelling that you see is an Arikira Earth Lodge. This lodge was made from four or so main posts placed in the earth, and then the rest of it was ribbed with tree branches and then covered with dirt. They also would often be carved into an existing hillside or bank of a creek or river. These houses had a central sort of chimney for the smoke and fire to be released. The other form of housing mentioned in the exhibit was a bark lodge, that was similar to the earth lodge excepting the fact that, instead of earth, it was covered with tree bark. Three to four families would live in these lodges, sharing space, meals, and company. I thought it fascinating that these families could live together by choice, and also work with each other so well. The fellowship and cooperative spirit of tribal culture has always fascinated me, and I wish that more people in the world would seek them out as an example.
The first exhibit you see is the Lakota Tipi. This dwelling is made from buffalo hide and is arranged with long branches or logs forming a conical shape for the hide to wrap around. There is a hole at the top that allows for smoke and fumes to escape, and for ventilation in the summer months. The interior would have buffalo furs and hides on the floor to soften and warm the ground, and their would often be a fire as well. I thought it was interesting due to the smallish space that was allowed inside, especially having grown up in a house where my own room was often bigger than the interior of said tipi. It made sense, however, seeing as the day to day activities of the tribes were not often spent inside the tipi, but rather outside, working, playing, hunting, learning, whatever the day brought.
The second dwelling that you see is an Arikira Earth Lodge. This lodge was made from four or so main posts placed in the earth, and then the rest of it was ribbed with tree branches and then covered with dirt. They also would often be carved into an existing hillside or bank of a creek or river. These houses had a central sort of chimney for the smoke and fire to be released. The other form of housing mentioned in the exhibit was a bark lodge, that was similar to the earth lodge excepting the fact that, instead of earth, it was covered with tree bark. Three to four families would live in these lodges, sharing space, meals, and company. I thought it fascinating that these families could live together by choice, and also work with each other so well. The fellowship and cooperative spirit of tribal culture has always fascinated me, and I wish that more people in the world would seek them out as an example.
Thoughts on Guest Speaker Ms. Dani Daugherty
Many of the points discussed by Ms. Dani Daugherty in class were of interest to me. In particular, I enjoyed her zeal and fire when speaking about the treaties and acts by the U.S. government that lead to what she called the single dirtiest piece of legislation ever passed by the U.S. (This in reference to all the business surrounding the acquisition of the Black Hills). The point that I found most fascinating was her speaking about the boarding schools.
One thing that made its so very interesting to hear her discuss the boarding schools was the fact that she had attended one herself. Hearing her talk about the positives, such as having a stable education, always knowing when your next meal would be, and learning practical life skills in modern society, was quite fascinating. I also was dismayed to hear about the negatives, such as a child growing up away from, and often outside, their own culture. Also, the fact that the child must grow and learn so far from their own family, sometimes so far that they wouldn't see them more then two or three times in a year, was saddening to me. The point she made about parents sometimes forgetting how to care for a child, seeing as they don't have their children around, was also heartbreaking. I have to admit my own thoughts on boarding schools, especially when it comes to the tribal boarding schools, are mixed and I cannot say that I am for or against them.
One thing that made its so very interesting to hear her discuss the boarding schools was the fact that she had attended one herself. Hearing her talk about the positives, such as having a stable education, always knowing when your next meal would be, and learning practical life skills in modern society, was quite fascinating. I also was dismayed to hear about the negatives, such as a child growing up away from, and often outside, their own culture. Also, the fact that the child must grow and learn so far from their own family, sometimes so far that they wouldn't see them more then two or three times in a year, was saddening to me. The point she made about parents sometimes forgetting how to care for a child, seeing as they don't have their children around, was also heartbreaking. I have to admit my own thoughts on boarding schools, especially when it comes to the tribal boarding schools, are mixed and I cannot say that I am for or against them.
http://brown.sd.us/dacotah-prairie-museum/on-exhibit/gallery-h