build a sweat lodge

But worth it!

It took us about 5 hours to actually build the sweat lodge (in the Lakota tradition). We used willow branches, covered with blankets, and used (65!) heated stones for 12 people. A large one.

Hi Galahuth…my question is how to preserve the lodge over winters and preserve it…

okay not everyone can get willow saplings buffalo hide etc that is obvious, there are easy ways to do this without these things first literature. anyone interested in building a tepee/sweat lodge or other native structure buy “the indian tipi second edition” by reginald and gladys laubin it has full structural instructions on all of these plus other information on native culture that is essential. second buy “mother earth spirituality” by eagle man ed mcgaa, it has info on this and construction of peace pipes, also how to conduct many ceremonies and journies (this guy is a student of ben black elk and fools crow so i kinda trust him) now for easy construction

steel bars can be used and jointed with traditional pipe joints for the entire structure drape over this a tarp and blankets to blackout the whole area this will create the effect nessecary.
next mind that PVC can work if spaced properly, the heat emmitted in the lodge is primarily steam not fire its basically a sauna.

if you want to make bars naturaly and wish to shun plastic metal etc NP. just find or grow some bamboo (if you are in midwest or plains you can grow it and it flourishes quickly) or go to an exotic hardwood stores and you can prolly find willow lodgepole pine or rattan all these will bend easily when wet and you can season them to your liking and shape nessecary
ery often when hides wernt available in more recent days pendelton blankets were used to cover lodges (make sure to dry them in the sun properly or they can mold easily) or go to a large flea market like freindship (indiana) to find cheap hides dealers . . . i hope this is a good start if anyone needs more detailed info let me know

I want to build a sweatlodge for myself and my brother. We are both from the Cherokee and Choctaw tribes of North America. I want to start now to grow sapling trees in a ring that I can bend to form a structure. Over the structure, I will drape hides. In the center of the lodge I will impress the earth to make a hearth for the hot stones.

The lodge and rite of purification is part of my ancestory and would help me to find my place in that timeline, by knowing myself, the center of my universe.