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Show Lifeways 13 The Ute People constructed their tipi by using a tripod of particularly strong poles for the main support which were tied together at the top and raised. The rest of the poles were leaned against them and tied. When the poles were in place the folded hide cover was fastened to a lifting pole and hoisted into position. After this, the pole framework was covered, the bottom edge pegged, the vertical seam closed with wooden pins, and the door flaps attached. Two poles outside of the tipi were inserted in the pockets of the smoke flaps. By moving these flaps, adjustments to the changes of the wind direction could be made. To make the tipi more attractive, People often painted it with different colors or drew pictures of animals or birds on it. This was all according to how they wanted the tipi to be recognized by other People. The building and decorating of the tipi was an activity involving the whole family. Manners were very important for each person to know when visiting another person's home. For instance, if the entrance to the tipi were open, that meant that anybody who wanted to visit the home was welcome and did not have to announce who they were. However, if the tipi were closed, then visitors had to wait outside, identify themselves, and announce the purpose of their visit. When the head of the family recognized who it was, the person was invited in, but the visitor had to wait until the host said where they should be seated. If a young person was the visitor, they remained silent unless invited to speak by an elder. One of the main rules was that each member of the different households had to respect the other person's property. Women made the clothing. In warm weather the women wore a short skirt of shredded bark or buckskin and the men wore breech cloths. In the winter women wore ankle length dresses, and men wore shirts and leggings of tanned animal skins. The hides of buffalo, deer, antelope, elk, and mountain sheep were tanned and smoked, so that they would not shrink and would soften after becoming wet. Sinew thread was used for sewing. Blankets were made of rabbitskin, deerskin, buffalo skin, or of woven cloth traded from Pueblo people of New Mexico. The moccasins, shirts, leggings, and dresses used in festivities were often fringed and tied with hair or small tanned skins decorated with paint. Sometimes these garmets were embroidered with |