The Plains Indians were a group of Native American tribes who lived on the Great Plains of North America. They built shelters called tipis and teepees to protect themselves from the elements. Tipis were cone-shaped structures made of wooden poles and covered with animal skins or canvas. Teepees were similar in shape but were made of wooden poles and covered with animal hides. Both tipis and teepees provided shelter from the wind, rain, and snow, as well as a place to store food and supplies.