Saturday, September 26th, 2026

Did you know that tipis are examples of Indigenous engineering? Many Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains used these innovative shelters, which are durable and mobile – they can easily be broken down and packed when travelling to a new location in pursuit of more fertile grounds or warmer temperatures. Tipis are often decorated by the owners with paintings inspired by their dreams and visions, which also serve to protect the occupants. 

In this session, we will explore traditional Indigenous technologies and engineering design. We will learn about and apply traditional Indigenous Knowledge to build our own tipis! 

Participants are invited to wear an orange shirt to mark Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Time

Ages 7-12: 8 am PT • 9 am MT • 10 am CT • 11 am ET • 12 pm AT
Ages 13-17: 10 am PT • 11 am MT • 12 pm CT • 1 pm ET • 2 pm AT

Materials and Preparation

Members are eligible to receive a free kit from Ed-Digenous Traditions if they register and submit the supplies form (attached in registration confirmation email) before September 13th, 2026 at 11:59 PM. If you would like to decorate your tipi cover, please do so before the event. 

Non-members and participants who do not register before September 13th can purchase a Tipi Kit here. The Tipi Kit contains all of the materials included in the free kits. 

Additional materials required for the session:

• Glue Gun
• White Glue

• Scissors

Optional:

• Grass/Moss/Twig/Rock
• Brushes
• Paint