Native children often played with toys that represented activities of adult life, such as this miniature tipi, the shelter common to many Plains Indians.

Tipis are depicted or mentioned on the Hunkpapa winter count for the years 1811, 1818, 1828, 1852, 1871, 1872, 1874, 1875, and 1880.

They are depicted or mentioned on Lone-Dog's winter count for the years 1839-'40, 1843-'44, 1844-'45, 1852-'53, and 1861-'62.

A whole camp of tipis are depicted on the Wounded Knee winter count.