Known in the Siksika language as the niitoy-yiss, the tipi has for centuries been the traditional dwelling of many Indigenous peoples on the Great Plains of Turtle Island. Made from animal hides or pelts, the conical structure features a front opening and smoke flaps at the top, allowing the inside of the dwelling to be warm and dry in the winter and cool in the summer.

These structures were crucial to the nomadic way of life of many Indigenous peoples on the Plains, as they travelled to hunt buffalo, partake in social gatherings such as the Sundance and seek shelter during the harsh winters.

Niitoy-yiss could be quickly disassembled and reassembled, making them a perfect adaptation to the way of life of their users. Although most were left undecorated, certain tipis were painted to depict historical events, celestial bodies or depictions of the natural world. Traditionally, the doors would be oriented towards the sunrise in the East.

As colonialism led to the forced displacement of Indigenous people from their lands, robbing them of their traditional practices and leading to sedentarity, the tipi became less present in daily life. This also contributed to the false and racist beliefs that all Indigenous people lived in tipis.