When it comes to building a shelter in the backwoods, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. You’re not the subject of one of those obnoxious home renovation TV shows, and your shelter doesn’t need fancy marble countertops, double-pane windows, or a walk-in closet with track lighting — a simple structure will keep you alive. There are a wide variety of tried and true shelter designs that have been used by members of native cultures for centuries, and studying these shelters can help you survive.
The wikiup — also called a wickiup, wigwam, or wetu by certain Native American groups — is one traditional type of shelter that every survivalist and bushcrafter should know. It’s typically a dome-shaped shelter constructed from curved branches which meet at a central peak, though some wikiups are more conical with relatively flat sides. Gaps in the structural beams are filled in with roofing material, usually grass or green boughs that are interwoven to form a protective shell. A hole in the top allows smoke from a central fire to escape.
This isn’t to be confused with a tipi (or teepee), which is usually wrapped in animal skins and features two smoke vent flaps on top. Tipis were intended to be mobile, unlike the more permanent and sturdy wikiup/wigwam.
In the video below, outdoorsman Mitch Mitchell of NativeSurvival (who you may recognize from Season 1 of History Channel’s ALONE series) shows how he and his friend Malcolm constructed a two-man wikiup from felled trees, flexible branches, and loose debris from the forest floor. The shelter is soon blanketed with snow, but once a fire is lit inside, it forms a protective cocoon to keep the men warm and dry.
For more from Mitch, check out NativeSurvival.com.
