Cathy represented Tipi Lifestyles in the first International creative tourism conference in Santa Fe, NM last week. Tourism experts, artists, craftsmen, tour guides, and creative vacation designers from all over the world came together in Santa Fe to facilitate the new direction in tourism: Creative, experience driven vacations, tours, retreats, workshops, and travel.  

Moccasin Tracks indigenous cultural retreats fill a much needed niche in creative, eco travel. Our custom travel experiences for 2009 will include half-day, 3 day and 6 day Adventures for the traveler in South Dakota Indian Country, Montana Yellowstone country, and Santa Fe Pueblo country.  Call for upcoming schedule.

For Information about  upcoming retreats please look to the right at the Box entitled “Pages.” Click on all of the listed Pages for info about time, schedule, rates, and Info about Us.

In the “Categories” box below you will find info about our beadwork seminar and tipi notes associated with the Retreat. If you have any questions, please call us in person and we’ll be happy to elaborate.

Happy navigating! Cathy, Jerry, and Tressa

It’s wonderful to be back in Big Sky country after a sojourn in the hot and dusty SouthWest. Santa Fe is a special place, but the air sure is crisp and cool in Montana. And it’s so GREEN!

I’m spending the week painting a new 16 foot tipi and it’s liner, that is - after the 4th of July Rodeo - which is an event not to be missed in Red Lodge, Montana.

Our first of many Retreats (August 25th) is coming along nicely. With 4 participants signed up, we still have some spaces open. The group promises to be extremely diverse and very interesting, so if you’re thinking about it, give me a call and I’ll give you all the reasons why you shouldn’t miss this event!

Cathy - 505-470-6650

I stopped by Reese Tipis in Colorado Springs today on my way from Santa Fe, NM to Red Lodge, MT and picked up a spankin new 15.75′ tipi that I have been commissioned to paint for a client in Big Sky, MT.

While visiting with Richard of Reese Tipis, he talked me into updating this site - so blame him if you don’t like the new look. Not only does he make the world’s best tipis, he’s also not half bad at web design. He’s also a awesome photographer and has one of the largest collections of tipi pictures I’ve ever seen. The header picture on this blog is one of his tipi pictures.

You can see a collection of his pictures here: Tipi Pictures

“The Lakota was a true lover of nature. He loved the earth and all things of the earth, the attachment growing with age. It was good for the skin to touch the earth and the old people liked to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth. Their tipis were built upon the earth and their altars were made of earth. The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing. For us, to sit or lie upon the ground is to be able to think more deeply and to feel more keenly; we can see more clearly into the mysteries of life…”
– Chief Luther Standing Bear, born in 1868

“The tipi is much better to live in; always clean, warm in winter, cool in summer; easy to move. The white man builds big houses, cost much money, like big cage, shut out sun, can never move; always sick.”
– Flying Hawk, a Oglala born in 1852.

You will learn to set up a traditional Sioux style lodge, outfit it in luxurious 19th century style, with buffalo robes, willow backrests, rawhide parfleche bags, and beaded accouterments. You will sleep next to the earth, feeling her energy, and see the stars through the opening above you. You will learn to build the central fire and set up the altar behind it. You will gain an understanding of why a tipi faces east and of the world view integral to life in the sacred circle.

While we encourage you to sleep in the tipi (at least one night of your stay,) we have lovely cabins available for your use. Mountain weather is unpredictable and this guarantees a safe and dry place to store your clothing and personal belongings, bathe or shower, and sleep in a comfortable bed. We want your stay to be comfortable, entertaining, educational and above all, stress free.

Our approach to teaching beadwork is organic; each class is different depending upon the abilities and needs of the students and the energetics of the group. Smith teaches in the same manner in which she learned: In the sacred way. Beadwork grew out of the sacred tradition of porcupine quillwork, a Holy Art, brought by” Double Woman.” The material art form can not be separated from its spiritual nature without a loss of integrity, value, meaning and power.

Those who wish to learn authentically, at the same time gaining a deeper cultural understanding will appreciate this class. The goal will be the creation of an object of everyday use that is uniquely & traditionally ornamented. Starting with a piece of brain tanned deer skin, each student will make either a Medicine Bag, Strike-a-light Bag, or pair of moccasins, depending upon individual ability, time, and dedication.

The materials provided are the highest quality and authenticity: Including brain tanned deerskin, earth pigments, and glass seed and pony beads in historically accurate colors. Your project will be Museum Quality.