NPW 14 TIPI CONTEST

1. This year the judging will be conducted differently than previous National Powwows. All registered contestants will serve as peer judges and will be asked to judge and rank each tipi in the contest, including their own. Who better knows how to pitch and furnish a tipi than the contestants themselves?

2. Therefore, all tipi owners that wish to participate in the contest must be registered with the Tipi Camp Coordinator no later than Saturday morning, July 12th, at 8am. Early registration throughout the powwow is encouraged. Each contestant will be given a registration number on a piece of cardboard.  Registration numbers must be prominently placed above the tipi door of the morning of the contest. Formal judging must be complete no later than noon on Saturday and rankings turned into the Tipi Camp Coordinator. Contestants are urged to visit and "judge" neighboring tipis throughout the powwow as a
way of getting to know their neighbors. As a courtesy, please ask the owner if you can go inside to observe their interiors.

3. The Tipi Camp Coordinator is not eligible to participate in the tipi contest.

4. Tipis will be ranked on an individual sheet, then tabulated, and the top 10 tipis will be recognized. In the interest of time, the top nine tipis will be recognized and honored in the tipi camp prior to the Saturday evening dance. The top finisher will be recognized at the Saturday evening dance and be presented with the prestigious Gordon and Janice Collins Tipi Excellence Award.

In addition to the top 10 ranking there will be other recognition for the tipi that traveled the furthest; the most contemporary; the most traditional, etc. Vendors will be solicited for donated gifts to honor these lodge owners.

5. A suggested guide for judging the tipi will be distributed at the time of registration.  This guide will based upon previous National Powwow judging forms.  The Indian Tipi, by Reginald and Gladys Laubin, will also be a suggested guide to participants.

6. Please, fairground rules, no bareground fires.  Tipi contest contestants are encouraged to camp in the designated tipi camp area.

7. Other tipi program events will be a complimentary tipi camp breakfast at the camp of the Tipi Camp Coordinator on Thursday morning, 10 July, at 9am. A specific tipi related seminar with guest speaker is being developed.  

8. Questions or concerns?  Please contact Peter Durkin, Tipi Camp Coordinator, at 713.831.6513, 3601 Fannin, Houston, Texas, 77004, or email at peter.durkin@pphset.org.

9. Please share this information with any organization or individual that would be interested in attending NPW 14.  Have a safe trip and let the contest begin!   

  

DATE: ____________________ 

NPW 14 Tipi Contest Scoring Sheet 

Registration Number:__________             Name of Owner:______________________________ 
Each area is scored on a 0 - 10 point system. 
 
I.  Tipi Pitching 

1. Orderliness of poles - tripod or quad-pod, lodge poles sharpened to a  point, etc. appropriate for tribe. 
2. Tightness of cover - wrinkle free, even off the ground, “kisses” the ground at the door, does not ‘bell bottom’ at base. 
3. Position of smoke flaps - smoke flap poles. 
4. Ground pegs uniform. 
5. Lacing pins uniform. 
6. Lining hung neatly - lining can be up or down for the summer.  
7. Door Sticks - “Do Not Disturb”, “Y” shaped cover sticks for ventilation. 

__________Points     Comment:_____________________________________________________ 

1. Pole tips - streamers, scalplocks, horsetail, etc. 
2. Cover decoration - beadwork, painted or plain.  Is decoration compatible with defined tribe? 
3. Door decoration, beadwork, painting, different materials. 
4. Lacing pin decoration and dangles. 
5. Door pole, decoration 

__________Points     Comment:_____________________________________________________ 

1. Tripods with shields, medicine bundles, lances, etc. 
2. Weapons tripods, bow case quiver, coup stick, etc. 
3. Horse gear, saddle, picket pin, ropes, etc. 
4. Shaded “cooler” for outside activities. 
5. General outside living look - backrests, cooking area, any authentic cooking gear, robes or blankets on ground 

__________Points     Comment:______________________________________________________ 

1. Backrests, carved or painted tripods, robes, blankets, beds, pillows. 
2. Rawhide containers, boxes, small cases, parfleches, etc. 
3. Fire pit (because of summer heat, these can be just rocks around grass or cedar shavings or sage). 
4. Altars are individual preference, meat rack with pipe, mellow earth, etc. 
5. Beaded articles - possible bags, clothing, blanket strips, etc. 
6. Linings, painted or beaded. 
7. Women’s tools and men’s weapons, bladder bags, silverware, bowls, etc. 
8. Children’s toys, baby carriers, toy tipis, etc. 
9. Overall impression?  Neat, comfortable, practical and livable? 

__________Points    Comment:_____________________________________________________ 

__________TOTAL POINTS                       Judge’s Initials____________________ 

Any special Comments on Tipi:_____________________________________________________ 

 

Name________________________________________________________________________ 
Address_________________________________________________________________________ 
City, State, Zip____________________________________________________________________ 
Home Phone____________________________     Work Phone____________________________ 
             Fax #____________________________     e-mail_________________________________ 
Please tell the Judges something about your tipi, such as tribe, era, unique characteristics, etc. 
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Anything you would like to suggest to enhance this competition and experience to improve it in future years? 
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Mail to Peter Durkin, 3601 Fannin, Houston, Texas 77004, or fax:  713-535-2408 
Or bring 5 copies to Danville, Illinois