DEBRIS HUT / How to make one

NATURAL SHELTERS
Do not overlook natural formations that provide shelter. Examples are caves, rocky crevices, clumps of bushes, small depressions, large rocks on leeward sides of hills, large trees with low-hanging limbs, and fallen trees with thick branches. However, when selecting a natural formation—

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Stay away from low ground such as ravines, narrow valleys, or creek beds. Low areas collect the heavy cold air at night and are therefore colder than the surrounding high ground. Thick, brushy, low ground also harbors more insects.
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Check for poisonous snakes, ticks, mites, scorpions, and stinging ants.
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Look for loose rocks, dead limbs, coconuts, or other natural growth than could fall on your shelter.

For warmth and ease of construction, the debris hut is one of the best. When shelter is essential to survival, build this shelter



To make a debris hut, you should—

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Build it by making a tripod with two short stakes and a long ridgepole or by placing one end of a long ridgepole on top of a sturdy base.
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Secure the ridgepole (pole running the length of the shelter) using the tripod method or by anchoring it to a tree at about waist height.
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Prop large sticks along both sides of the ridgepole to create a wedge-shaped ribbing effect. Ensure the ribbing is wide enough to accommodate your body and steep enough to shed moisture.
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Place finer sticks and brush crosswise on the ribbing. These form a latticework that will keep the insulating material (grass, pine needles, leaves) from falling through the ribbing into the sleeping area.
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Add light, dry, if possible, soft debris over the ribbing until the insulating material is at least 1 meter (3 feet) thick—the thicker the better.

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Place a 30-centimeter (1-foot) layer of insulating material inside the shelter.
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At the entrance, pile insulating material that you can drag to you once inside the shelter to close the entrance or build a door.
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As a final step in constructing this shelter, add shingling material or branches on top of the debris layer to prevent the insulating material from blowing away in a storm.

Comment: Debris huts have been known to save people in 20 to 40 below weather.
When built properly some people even complain of being to hot. Make sure you stuff debris or leaves all around inside the shelter.
-Wakiya

Inuit Woman Saves Downed Pilot

"The Snow Walker" Touched my heart and brought everything to bare concerning Native Spirituality, survival, giving, and tracking all in one ball of wax. This Movie is based on a true story.

A Young Alaskan Bush pilot "Charlie" on a routine run delivering fuel oil and food to a small Inuit fishing camp in the remote wilderness of Alaska, concedes to fly a young Inuit women "Kanella" in need of medical attention to a hospital in "Yellow knife." On their way back the float plane loses oil pressure and goes down in the middle of nowhere.

The ex-world war two pilot who thought he had seen and done it all was now at the mercy of the elements and wilderness. As he goes through his tantrums, cussing and anger, the native women looks at his antics calmly and with compassion. His reputation as a macho swaggering two fisted drinking pilot doesn't go far when confronted with survival.

In a vain attempt to venture off on his own, he soon finds himself unconscious due to the lack of knowledge concerning the land, the elements, dehydration, and an attack by a swarm of Mosquitoes. He looses his shoes, gun and half his clothing.

When he wakes up he finds the Native Women who had followed him without his knowledge by his side . His feet and wounds are already wrapped in herbs from the surrounding wilderness and he is given something warm to drink from an old can.

As the story progresses, the Young women employs all of her skills such as fishing with a simple nature made block and tackle, catching rodents with snares made from natural vines etc. She also happens to have in her pouch a knife for skinning, and other useful items like bone needles.

Not only does she nurse him back to health, and sew clothes for him to survive but provides him with hope, companionship and a sense of spirituality and morality which is sorely needed. He finds himself looking at life and his past war experiences as a fighter pilot in a whole new light. He is literally transformed by a twenty year old woman, who is ailing in the first place. She provides him with views on everything from mortality and living in oneness with nature, to self healing, tracking, hunting and survival.

On a scale of five I give this a ten. I recommend this movie highly or the book for that matter. This is work of art. It could have just as easily been a documentary. I have just scratched the surface regarding the content and feelings conveyed.

As a footnote: I found a resonance in my own life, having been a Bush Pilot and Flight instructor, (see photo below) in the wilds of Mexico and the south pacific and at one time was even declared missing. Fortunately for me all turned out ok. My story could very well have been this one in many ways.
-Wakiya (Thunder)

Earth Houses

Compared to traditional residential houses built on the ground, the aim of building an earth house is another: Not to live under or in the ground, but with it. The earth house is a flexible construction which can be built according to the wishes of its owners, fulfilling the need for individuality, environmentally friendly construction and energy saving. The earth house concept uses its surroundings as an advantage – the surroundings are not adapted to the building, the house is shaped in order to preserve the natural environment. Modern earth-house architecture incorporates the latest interior finishing, such as contemporary kitchens, bathrooms and house-control systems.

As an energy efficient home, underground homes excel, as the ground temperature varies little, so little heating or cooling is necessary, and the home can be impervious to outdoor environment. Natural heating and cooling can save as much as 85% on your energy bill.

Comment: I have been thinking about this a long time, so I went to my computer art program quite some time ago and pieced together what I thought would be an awesome cave dwelling,,with indoor fireplace, bath or hot tub, fire place, drum, sacred pipe, sleeping space and of course I added a companion too. That's extra and not included in the construction. (laughs) -Thunder

Wilderness

What is a Wilderness Area

"In the end, dedicated, inspired people empowered by effective legislation will ensure that the spirit and services of wilderness will thrive and permeate our society, preserving a world that we are proud to hand over to those who come after us." Vance G. Martin and Ian C. Player, Forward, A Handbook on International Wilderness Law and Policy

Defining “wilderness” is sometimes challenging because the word has many different usages: it is sometimes used very loosely or metaphorically in casual conversation, and sometimes very precisely, for example as a biological descriptor, or as a protected area classification in land use statutes. Adding to the complexity is the fact that the term “wilderness” refers to a set of qualities, such as wildness, intactness, and remoteness, all of which are to some degree contextual and subject to interpretation.

Despite its many subjective values, the word wilderness is not so elusive that it defies definition. Broadly speaking, The WILD Foundation defines wilderness areas as: The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet – those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with roads, pipelines or other industrial infrastructure.
A wilderness area can have two dimensions:

* A place that is mostly biologically intact ; and,
* A place that is legally protected so that it remains wild, and free of industrial infrastructure, and open to traditional indigenous use, or low impact recreation.

A wilderness area is not necessarily a place that is biologically “pristine”. Very few places on earth are not in some way impacted by humans. Rather, the key is that a wilderness area be mainly biologically intact: evidence of minor human impact, or indications of historical human activity does not disqualify an area from being considered wilderness. Nor must a wilderness area be free of human habitation: many indigenous populations live in wild areas around the world, often playing a key role in keeping wilderness intact and free of development.

The essence of a wilderness area is that it is a place where humans can maintain a relationship with wild nature. Whether that relationship is characterized by recreational use or traditional, indigenous use does not matter, so long as the relationship is predicated on a fundamental respect for – and appreciation of – wild nature.

Wilderness areas are protected for a broad range of biological, social, economic, spiritual and recreational benefits – they often also have powerful iconic value, holding great significance as spectacular, awe inspiring places.
-The wild foundation

Comment by Thunder

The above description is an attempt to describe Nature or how all of the planet was at one time. Now we designate certain areas as quote: "Wilderness Areas" because of our encroachment and destruction of a good deal of the pristine environment, or nature. Nature meaning natural or as it should be.

The Native American considered himself one with the nature of things, "The living spirit that moves in all things" he believed the supernatural and natural to be one, until others tried to convince him they were separate.
The Taoists consider Nature supreme and part of "The Tao" or that force which cannot be described. A force we should flow with and live in harmony with. The real problem is we built our living environments out of sync with our surroundings, because of some misguided notion that we were separate. Now we pay the price unless we do a 180, which seems unlikely. Its more like nature will do a 180 on us.

Earth friendly homes / Modern Teepees

No matter how you spell it; tipi, tepee or teepee, a Reliable Tipi is a charming lodge that kindles nostalgic memories of a simpler time in history. The materials in use today are modern and durable; the designs are authentic and replicate the tribal traditions of the western plains Indians. The Crow, Sioux, Cheyenne, and Blackfeet styles. The original dwellers of tipis were nomadic peoples attuned to the spirits, the land and its' animals, as well as, the seasons. Today we can enjoy a similar spiritual experience that seems to exist within all tipis.

Info: Colorado Yurts

Reliable Tent and tipi

Apache Dwellings

The Apache are a Native American people located throughout the southwest. Most Apache tribes were nomadic and their territory stretched from present day Mexico to the southern plains of the US.
The Apache used several different types of dwellings depending on where they lived and the construction materials found in the area.

History of
Because they were nomads, Apache dwellings were semi-permanent for easy construction. Apache dwellings were as diverse as the areas in which they lived. They adapted their homes to different climates and sometimes adopted new building techniques from neighboring Native American tribes.


Type # 1 The most widely used Apache dwelling was called a wickiup or wigwam. Large wooden branches and poles were the frame and surrounding brush covered the entire structure as protection from the elements. These dwellings could be constructed very quickly if enough resources were in the area. Due to their religious beliefs, most Apaches would burn a wickiup or wigwam if one of the current inhabitants died.

Type# 2 The hogan is another type of dwelling adopted by the Apache tribes. This structure is more commonly associated with the Navajo tribe, but some southern Apache used this type of housing as well. Hogans were more permanent homes as they were built of mud and sticks. A frame was made from logs and mud, sticks and even dried earthen bricks were used to finish the home. The entryway or front door of a hogan will always east to face the rising sun.

Type# 3 The kowa was a dome-shaped dwelling with a wooded frame, thatch and grass were used for the covering. Much like the wickiup or wigwam, the kowa was easily assembled and taken down for travel. Like all Apache dwellings, the construction of the kowa was done by the women of the tribe.

Type# 4 The teepee or tipi, is the most recognized Native American dwelling. This home was commonly used by the Plains Indians. The Lipan and Plains Apache often used this type of dwelling. The teepee is a cone-shaped structure supported by large poles and covered with animal skins. The top of the teepee had a hole that allowed smoke from a central fire to escape. The most common skin used to cover a teepee was buffalo skin. Teepees were very versatile for the Plains Apache as they could be built and taken down quickly as the tribe moved from place to place in search of game.

Modern Native American Warrior

Although the Apache Indian tribes may be known for their historical conflicts with the Mexicans throughout much of the 17th and 18th centuries, Master Sgt. Gabriel Fierro Sr. is proud of his blended heritage. Tracing his family's roots back to the Apache and Aztec Indian tribes, his parents' ancestors set foot on American soil long before the creation of our nation and the Army. His father, who is part Apache Indian and part Mexican, and mother, who is part Mayan and part Aztec Indian, raised Fierro to be proud of his heritage and devoted to the land in which he lived. The Soldier, who is the fourth family member to serve in the Army, uses his blended background to help others, including the younger enlisted Soldiers in his unit and his own children.


The self-proclaimed "cultural chameleon" has been able to use his blended American Indian and Hispanic heritages to better relate with both cultural groups, speaking Spanish to Hispanic Soldiers and discussing the warrior ethos of the Indian tribes with American Indian Soldiers. However, regardless of a Soldier's heritage, Fierro is committed to helping them prepare for life within the Army. In addition to mentoring and leading the Soldiers in his unit, Fierro is also a dedicated father, striving to instill Army Strong values in his children.


"Everything I teach my Soldiers, I teach my kids, and vice versa. I want everyone to be treated for who they are, not what they look like," said Fierro.


Drawing on his own blended cultural heritage, Fierro emphasizes to both his fellow Soldiers and children the importance of being open-minded and accepting, as well as teaching them to base opinions on others' actions, not their race or heritage.


When Fierro enlisted in the Army in the late 1970s, he was following in not only a tradition of excellence for Noncommissioned Officers (NCO), but his family as well. With Fierro's father and two brothers serving as NCOs in the Army, he joined right out of high school, thinking he would serve for a few years before starting a civilian career. However, he has continued to serve, knowing that his Army service provides him with a meaningful career and enables him to do what he loves most - helping others.


An extension of Fierro's commitment to helping others, the Soldier deployed to Balad, Iraq in 2007-2008 to serve as a Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. While deployed, the 431st Civil Affairs Team successfully completed more than 130 combat missions working with local provincial government to improve employment options for Iraqis. One of the most notable projects during his deployment was helping to institute the first micro-loan program in the Salah- Ah-Din region, to create economic stability. For meritorious service throughout his deployment, the NCO was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. True to his commitment as a leader and mentor, Fierro took it upon himself to maintain the morale of the unit, frequently sharing care packages with other Soldiers who didn't have an active support system at home.


Fierro, along with his wife and children, currently lives in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves with the 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training) as a Human Resources Manager. In that role, he works to prepare Soldiers for mobilization, as well as help them balance their roles as citizens and Soldiers. With more than three decades of Army service, the Reservist has plans to retire in the fall of 2010, and feels confident that the Army has provided him with skills transferable to many civilian occupations.

lakota lanquage / Inyan / Rock