47 
windbreak. In case of snowfall at night, a lean-to is built by slanting 
poles from the back and covering them with whatever is at hand. Sleeping 
on top of the snow is only done at times of emergency, in which case it is 
advantageous to pile some more snow on top of one’s covering. 
Two kinds of brush shelters are remembered by the Satudene. One 
was in the shape of a ‘V’ tent, and the other in the form of a tipi. Neither 
moss nor leaves were used. Young spruce boughs were matted on poles 
placed fairly close together, thus serving to keep out the snow; but they 
were not used in the summer, being ineffective against rain, The tipi type 
was like the skin structure except that the poles were placed more closely 
together. The brush was laid on with tips pointing downwards. This 
type of structure was used as a menstrual lodge. 
A 'split-log’ lodge in tipi forms exists east of Rae on the Fort Enter- 
prise trail. It is said to have been constructed by Dogribs. No other 
case, nor the age of the custom, is known to the Great Bear Lake Indians. 
The Loucheux formerly constructed lodges semicircular in ground 
plan and built in pairs with a fireplace of raised mud between them. Two 
families lived opposite each other, sharing the common fire. This type of 
dwelling has not been found among the Satudene, but two tents have been 
occasionally observed placed close together with a fire between. 
The sudatory, or sweathouse, is not known or remembered at the 
present time among the Great Bear Lake Indians. Hooper, however, 
describes it on Great Bear lake in the form of a tightly closed tent in which 
water is thrown on heated stones. After the bath, it is said to have been 
not unusual for the performer to dash into ice cold water ( See Hooper, 
1853, page 318). Richardson (1852, page 231) refers to the sweathouse 
among the Chipewyan. 
Skin Tipis. The skin tipi was the common form of lodge among the 
Great Bear Lake Indians half a century or more ago. Barren-ground cari- 
bou skins were used in this region, where that animal was formerly plentiful. 
In the winter the skins were used with the hair outside, but in summer skins 
were used with the hair removed. The erection of the tipi was begun 
with several poles, either tied together or held by a fork at the end of one. 
The additional poles were spaced from 18 to 36 inches apart at the base, 
depending on the quantity available. The size of the lodges varied greatly, 
depending particularly upon the ability of the hunter, since the best skins 
are only available in the autumn. Summer skins are full of grub holes. 
The tipi was open at the top and without the typical attached wings of 
the plains Indians. Sometimes in case of strong winds, a wing-like pro- 
tector was put up with the aid of separate skins and poles. The lodges 
were cold, and in them was a bad eddy of wind and smoke. The skins 
were dressed and sewn with fine babiche or sinew. When caribou skins 
were not available, moose skins were used. After the snow was cleaned 
away, the ground was covered with spruce brush and the fire made in the 
centre. The fireplace was usually protected from the brush by flat poles, 
which gave an appearance of neatness. Cross poles were suspended hori- 
zontally from the lodge poles for the drying of fish, meat, and clothes. If 
the weight on these was too great, supporting poles were put in. Poles 
were driven from the inside underneath the edge of the snow and cross 
