When bison were still plentiful on the plains, the Dakota used the animal hides for the outer covering.  Typically a single cover required at least eight hides.  By the time the Dakota camped on the Gibbs farm in the 1850s and 1860s, they used canvas, which was lighter and more readily available from trading posts. 

 A liner tied on the poles around the inside insulated the interior and prevented rain from dripping off the poles into the living area.  They tied the base of the lining to the poles near the ground.  Sometimes they put moss or grasses in between the cover and the lining for further insulation. A fire in the center of the tioti radiated heat efficiently throughout the dwelling, making it cozy and warm in the bitter cold. 
 

While in the tioti the Dakota elders would pass the long winter nights by telling stories to the younger generation. Parents would spend time teaching their children different skills such as sewing and tool making. Villages would also move as the herds moved or if weather demanded more shelter.