The term “wigwam” comes from the Mi’kmaw word wikuom, meaning “dwelling”. Our people built several different types of wigwam; the most common was the conical-shaped structure, which usually housed a single family of up to twelve people. Larger oval, rectangular or v-shaped wigwams could hold up to twenty-five people.

Photo Credit: Learning Resources and Technology / Nova Scotia Department of Education

In traditional wigwam construction, sheets of birch bark covered a spruce pole frame of usually eight to ten poles, spread out at the bottom and tied together at the top. Inside, layers of fir boughs, rush mats, and furs made a comfortable floor.