Grand Canyon West - Indian Village

An additional attraction at Grand Canyon West is the Indian Village, a collection of recreated traditional Native American dwellings from various tribes and periods.

The wikiup is a Hualapai dwelling made of juniper timber, brush and earth. The walls and floors were lined with animal skins. The dwellings were often constructed on a large scale for whole family groups. Sweat lodges were used for healing and as clubhouses by the men of the tribe.

The tipi of the Plains Indians is well suited to the nomadic lifestyle. Buffalo hide lining on the inside provides warmth in winter. The conical shape is intended to reflect nature's perfect form. Fires were built in the centre and smoke escaped through the hole in the top.

The Navajo Tribe built Hogans like this one. It is traditionally built of wood and mud, spiritual materials because they are part of the earth. The wood must not come from trees that have been struck by lightning because objects struck by lightning are said to have lost their spirit. The entrance always faces east because goodness and prosperity are associated with the dawn of a new day. The male Hogan is pointy with a hole in the top, like the one above. The symbolism is more apparent when you see the female Hogan.

The female Hogan is rounded, like big breasts.

The houses of the Hopi are more substantial. The stone and mortar is plastered and whitewashed, with clay used to connect the structural elements. This form of construction readily allowed the Hopi to dismantle or extend on structures. It's nice to think that the Hopi invented Lego.