Tule Reed Mats

Now the remaining tule is often too short and dried out.

Tule reed mats. Tule is just one example of how cultural activities are starting to disappear because of environmental change. Historically the wanapum or river people who still live along the columbia river near beverly created houses out of mats made from tule a bulrush that grows abundantly in local ponds springs and sloughs. Tule reeds found along shorelines provided material for baskets sleeping mats and sandals among many other uses. A tule mat lodge was a shelter or house that was constructed using mats made of tule a type of bulrush or reed that was abundant along rivers and marshes in the plateau region of north america and canada.

A tule mat made with tule cordage has larger gaps between rows of. Tule stalks may be bound together into a mat using several different techniques. Before the salish got horses for bison hunting they lived in tents covered with sewed mats of tule. Their economy was based on acorns and other wild plant foods supplemented by fishing and hunting.

In this overview caryldene swan from the coeur d alene tribe of indians demonstrates how to create a tule reed mat. Dyed and woven tules are used to make baskets bowls mats hats clothing duck decoys and even boats by native american groups. They used the mats to cover their winter log houses and summer tepees. Karen taught about the variety of uses that tule had and taught about the historical significance of the plant in chumash life.

The tule plants were tall enough green enough and abundant enough. The modoc also used sagebrush bark to make baskets clothing and footwear. Traditionally the interior and coastal gabrielino lived in houses constructed of poles and tule reed mats. Women were responsible for much of the plant gathering and food preparation.

How were tule mat lodges built. In addition to demonstrating how to create the mats swan discusses the materials required to make the mats some of the traditional uses for mats and the qualities of tule reed that make them useful for constructing shelters. It is still possible to make items like baskets and mats but a lot more difficult to make boats or houses.