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GEOLOGY & CULTURE These tribes survived on Hunting . The American Bison (or Buffalo) was the primarily hunted animal. These tribes kept moving following the migration of the buffalo. Buffalo were used for all the basic needs; food, clothing and shelter. The Plains Indians used Tipi s covered in animal skin and easily disassembled to follow game animals. The Plains tribes had adopted a Horse Culture beginning in the 17th century when escaped Spanish Horse s were obtained by the tribes. Buffalo were sometimes hunted by surrounding them and then trying to run them off cliffs. RELIGION Great Plains Religion Religion was an important part of a Great Plains Indian’s life, as they believed that all things were connected to religion, as they possessed spirits. Their worship was centered on one main god, Wakan Tanka, or the Great Spirit. The Great Spirit had power over everything that had ever existed, and the Indians thought that by worshipping him, they would get stronger. Earth was also quite important, as she was the mother of all spirits. Spirits were worshipped every day. People sometimes prayed alone, while other times, there were group gatherings in tribes. The most important group ceremony of all was the Sun Dance. In the Sun Dance, Indians danced for four days around a sacred object, and some would inflict harm upon themselves on purpose, all while staring at the sun. They thought this self-sacrifice would encourage powerful spirits to support and defend them. There were also people that were wakan, or blessed, who were also called shaman. To become wakan, your prayers must be answered by The Great Spirit, or you must see a sign from him. Wakan were thought to possess great power, and one of their jobs was to heal people, which is why they are also sometimes called the medicine man. They healed by trying to convince a person that they weren’t sick, or they used drugs, like an old-day version of aspirin and skunk-cabbage to cure asthma. The shamans were considered so important that they decided when to hunt! Plains Indians also thought that some objects possessed spiritual power. One such item was the medicine bundle, which was a sack that carried items that were thought to be important to the owner. Items in the sach might include rocks, feathers, and more. Another thing that was very spiritual was the shield. The shield was the most prized possession of any warrior, and he decorated it with many paintings and feathers. The animals that were drawn onto the shield were thought to protect the owner. Legends Great Plains legends featured Buffalo Spirits and the Earth Mother. Men belonged to ritual societies that offered camaraderie, a focus for public duties, and a forum to organize war and hunting parties. Powerful beings communicated through dreams and vision, and the individual vision quest was an important part of life. This involved seeking a spirit guide or seeing an intended purpose to the future and required the performance of certain rituals, such as fasting, or the construction of a sacred space. In some tribes, from northern Mexico, the vision quest was achieved with the use Entheogens . HUNTING Hunting in the Plains Great Plains Indians had one main food source, buffalo. Although they hunted other animals, like elk or antelope, buffalo was by far the most plentiful food source throughout their area. Before horses were introduced, hunting was a complicated process. The Native Americans would surround the buffalo, and then they would try to herd them off of cliffs or into places where they would be more easily killed. The of the Plains Indians were spears and bows. When horses were introduced to the Indians when white settlers came to America, it made hunting much easier. With horses, the Indians could simply stampede and overtake the buffalo with their speed, and many buffalo were slaughtered at point-blank range from horseback. The bows were then changed in design, reduced to only three feet in length, to make them easier to shoot from horseback. Bows were still used when guns were introduced, as guns took too long to reload and were too heavy. In the summer, many tribes would gather in one place to hunt. The chief organized the hunt at that time, and many buffalo were killed. Hunting was not an easy task, though, only the bravest men were allowed to hunt and they had to follow strict rules. They could not go forward alone, nor could they make even the slightest noise. If they didn’t follow these rules, they would be beaten and their possessions would be burned. The main hunting seasons were fall, summer, and spring, as in winter, harsh snow and mighty blizzards made it almost impossible to kill the buffalo. |
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