Wigwam: the winter home

Winter Wigwam

By Dave Wilsey

The winter wigwam was a seasonal home built by woodland tribes upon reaching their winter camps. In its most basic form, the winter wigwam was framed with saplings and covered with birch bark, held fast by cedar strips and spruce roots.  Bark was layered so as to shed water. Some wigwams had overhead vents and air intakes to improve the interior air quality when burning fires. Double-wall technology may have been used to increase the structure’s insulation capacity. Floor mats of grasses and other fibers also helped to keep the interior warm and clean.