From Edward Curtis’ Field Notes:

“The typical habitation of the Sioux, as of other plains tribes, from the earliest tradition to the disappearance of the buffalo, was the skin lodge, in their language tipi. The tipi of the old days, when dogs were the beasts of burden, was smaller than during the period following the coming of the horse. The covering was of tanned buffalo-hides, and when new was almost white; but with use and from the smoke of the tipi fire it became a rich brown, and was exceedingly soft and flexible.” – Edward S. Curtis

Volume 06, The Piegan, 1911. Portfolio plate no. 195.