The Plains Indians

1
The Plains Indians
Sioux Comanche
2
USI.3A GROUPS LOCATION OF EACH
KWAKIUTL
Indian (1)
3
THE SIOUX
Lived in tepees
Lived on the Great Plains
Ate buffalo meat
Wore hides, etc.
4
The Eastern Plains were nomads

• How they lived Nomadic and moved frequently
  followed buffalo herds and lodged in teepees. The
  tipi was a very good shelter for the Plains
  Indians. It was easy to set up and take down. It
  was warm in winter, cool in summer and
  waterproof.
• No matter how often they moved they were a united
  tribe.
• What they wore strips of leather in their hair
  to keep their hair pulled back.
• Clothes were all made of animal skin (mostly deer
  skin). Women wore long dresses and leggings, men
  wore deerskins shirts and tight leggings.
• The tipi was a very good shelter for the Plains
  Indians.
• It was easy to set up and take down.
• It was warm in winter, cool in summer and
  waterproof.

5
The Buffalo Hunt

• Sometimes men covered in buffalo robes or wolf
  skins followed the animals waiting for the best
  time to kill them.
• Hunters drove the bison into deep snow and then
  killed them.
• The animals were attacked at water holes where
  they were unable to get away. Another method of
  driving herds of deer, pronghorn and bison into
  streams was by burning grass and forcing the
  animals to a river.
• Chasers" or "runners" would lead the animals
  towards a cliff where others waited behind rocks
  and trees. People waved blankets and shouted
  forcing the animals over the edge of the cliff.
  Others waited at the bottom of the cliff to kill
  the crippled animals. After horses came
• This method was sometimes used if the hunters had
  horses. A hunting party would charge the herd and
  get as close as they could to a bison, then shoot
  it with a bow and arrow or gun.

6
One method of hunting buffalo in the northwestern
plains was to drive a herd of buffalo over a
cliff. This method required group cooperation
and resulted in the shared distribution of meat.
People waved blankets and shouted forcing the
animals over the edge of the cliff. Others waited
at the bottom of the cliff to kill the crippled
animals.
7
WINTER CAMPThe Plains tribes lived in small
groups or bands during the long winter months.
For five months of the year (November to March)
they lived in one place - known as the winter
camp. The winter camp was set up in a protected
area where there was water, wood, game and grass
for the horses. Then in late spring or early
summer, the bands would get together again for
religious ceremonies, important meetings and the
yearly bison hunt which took place in late summer
and fall. Each band was headed by a council and
a chief.
8
USI.3B
Pass out chart!
Indian Lake (6)