Native Americans

The buffalo were the main source of food for the Native Americans of the Plains. The people didn't just eat the meat, but also the tongue and many other organs as well. The blood was used in soup and puddings. The meat was eaten fresh from the hunt or preserved. Fresh meat was often cooked in a stew. Meat that could not be eaten right away was made into jerky or pemmican. Jerky was a sort Meat cut into strips and dried in the sun by hanging on a line.

There had used to be millions of buffalo living in huge herds across the plains of North America. The buffalo was very important to the Native Americans of the Plains. They provided the people with food, shelter, clothing, and almost everything else needed for survival. In the 19th century the buffalo was hunted almost to extinction by the american settlers. Without the buffalo, the Native Americans were not able to keep their way of life.

Here are a few things that the parts of a buffalo were used for: The brain was used for tanning hides- the skin. The hide was used for bags, belts, horse harnesses, masks and snowshoes. Its very similar to the leather from cows and goats we use. The bones were used for jewellery, dice, tools, shovels, and weapons of war like clubs and arrows. The dung was used for the pipe that chief smoked. The Horns were used for arrow holder, fire carriers and cups. The clothes and decoration was made from the fur on the sides. It was also used for stuffing pillows. The hooves were used as glue and rattles for the children. The gall bladder was used for yellow paint because bile was stored there which gave the yellow colour. The flesh was obviously eaten as food and last of all the heart. The heart was eaten by noble warriors raw so they could inherit the strength of the buffalo.

When there was about to be a buffalo hunt it was a big occasion so the warriors would dress in fine clothes and ride out cautiously to where the buffalo were grazing. The women would stay at home and so would the men and boys who had not passed their initiation- the sun dance.

Each warrior was renowned for the markings on their arrows so when a buffalo was shot by a fatal arrow it was clear who had killed it. There many dangers of buffalo hunting such as getting trampled, being gored by the horns, falling of the steep cliff amid the scramble with the buffalo and getting squashed by the buffalo.

War was a very big deal for the Native Americans because it was a way that the warriors could win glory and be a respected fellow in their tribe. A reason that the American Settlers held the Indians in contempt was because of their ways. They regarded the natives as childish and disgusting savages. The paintings that were drawn of them did not endear them to the settlers at all either. Before the battle began the warriors would play a game called Counting Coup to test their daring. The coup were feathers earned due to bravery. These feathers varied according to the deed that had been made. It was traditional that warriors scalp their dead enemy. It was very sickening but they believed that if this was done. the dead soldier would not enter their heaven and meet the great spirit.

To me the Native Americans were not cruel and brutal people as the western movies depict them to be, but very brave men who valued their beliefs and fought for their tribes.

Nahom Yacob 9 Pole