Pit house (sque’me’l)

Type: - Pit house is built by Sto’:lo’ people.- The people of the southern interior

developed a unique winter home that is usually called a pit house.

- Pit house : insulation from earth. They built in under grown.

- Pit house is comfortable and easy heated. Pit house cool in summer and warm in winter so people use pit house also incase of conflicts.

How built

• Circular with conical root built of beams and posts.

• Excavated out of deep soil.• 30 people live in.• Entered through central smokehole, held a

ladder made from s log.=> Side entrance for elders/ baby.Fire/ smoke cause wood not to dry; earth is moist.

MaterialPit house were excavated out of the deep soil, covered with a sloping roof of timbers and grass, bark, or pine boughs and topped off with a thick layer of earth. -> rope -> tide wood together.

Longhouse

• Type: • -important cultural entity• -named and decorated with crests• -used as living space, held ceremonies and

potlatches, gatherings• -located along rivers for good transportation

and water access

Materials of a longhouse

• -cedar logs and planks• -also used ash and elm• -rope • -dirt floors• -mats were put on walls for privacy (made of

bullrush)

How a longhouse is built

• 1.) base is set• 2.) doors, walls and roof are put together• 3.) vertical posts are put up and planks put

horizontally• 4.) ropes are used to tie together to secure

longhouse

Tee pee(Tipi)

Tee Pee

Materials:• Wooden poles, the poles were made from

long slender trees like pine trees• Skin: animal hides like moose or buffalo hides,

or canvas• Ropes

Tee Pee

Structure:• Smoke flaps on the top, smoke can be bowed

away by wind. • Function in different seasons, inside is warm in

winter and cool in summer.

How to build a teepee: