NOMADIC NATIONS OF THE GREAT PLAINS
Territory:
The territory of the Great Plains people varied a little in opinion. It generally refers to the area of Montana to Minnesota and down to New Mexico and Texas.
Tribes:
Plains Indians are usually divided into two broad classifications which overlap to some degree. The first group became a fully nomadic horse culture during the 18th and 19th centuries, following the vast herds of buffalo, although some tribes occasionally engaged in agriculture. These include the Blackfoot, Arapaho, Assiniboine, Cheyenne, Comanche, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kiowa, Lakota,Lipan, Plains Apache (or Kiowa Apache), Plains Cree, Plains Ojibwe, Sarsi, Nakoda (Stoney), and Tonkawa. The second group of Plains Indians were semi-sedentary, and, in addition to hunting buffalo, they lived in villages, raised crops, and actively traded with other tribes. These include the Arikara, Hidatsa, Iowa, Kaw (or Kansa), Kitsai, Mandan, Missouria, Omaha, Osage, Otoe, Pawnee,Ponca, Quapaw, Wichita, and the Santee Dakota, Yanktonai and Yankton Dakota. Both groups included some people indigenous to the region and some who were pushed west by population pressure linked to the ever-westward expansion of white culture.
Housing and Family Life:
The Great Plains Native Americans lived in homes called Teepees. It is made from buffalo hide fastened around long, wooden poles in the shape of a cone. Some teepees could comfortably hold up to 30-40 people! It was up to the women to decide where to place the teepee, and also in charge of everything that went on inside of it. The men were in charge of gathering the supplies needed for the teepee, and were also in charge of painting the outside of it. The paintings were often symbolic of their achievements.
Art:
They made a wide variety of different types of art, most that could be used everyday. They would carve wooden pipes with intricate detail. They would also make paintings of action scenes, such as battles, hunts, and warriors. They would make the paint from berry juice and other plants in nature.
Clothing:
The Plains people would weave geometric designs into their clothing and moccasins. The did not use beads, but rather porcupine quills. The pieces would range in size from 1/8 inch to 5 inches to create their designs.
Territory:
The territory of the Great Plains people varied a little in opinion. It generally refers to the area of Montana to Minnesota and down to New Mexico and Texas.
Tribes:
Plains Indians are usually divided into two broad classifications which overlap to some degree. The first group became a fully nomadic horse culture during the 18th and 19th centuries, following the vast herds of buffalo, although some tribes occasionally engaged in agriculture. These include the Blackfoot, Arapaho, Assiniboine, Cheyenne, Comanche, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kiowa, Lakota,Lipan, Plains Apache (or Kiowa Apache), Plains Cree, Plains Ojibwe, Sarsi, Nakoda (Stoney), and Tonkawa. The second group of Plains Indians were semi-sedentary, and, in addition to hunting buffalo, they lived in villages, raised crops, and actively traded with other tribes. These include the Arikara, Hidatsa, Iowa, Kaw (or Kansa), Kitsai, Mandan, Missouria, Omaha, Osage, Otoe, Pawnee,Ponca, Quapaw, Wichita, and the Santee Dakota, Yanktonai and Yankton Dakota. Both groups included some people indigenous to the region and some who were pushed west by population pressure linked to the ever-westward expansion of white culture.
Housing and Family Life:
The Great Plains Native Americans lived in homes called Teepees. It is made from buffalo hide fastened around long, wooden poles in the shape of a cone. Some teepees could comfortably hold up to 30-40 people! It was up to the women to decide where to place the teepee, and also in charge of everything that went on inside of it. The men were in charge of gathering the supplies needed for the teepee, and were also in charge of painting the outside of it. The paintings were often symbolic of their achievements.
Art:
They made a wide variety of different types of art, most that could be used everyday. They would carve wooden pipes with intricate detail. They would also make paintings of action scenes, such as battles, hunts, and warriors. They would make the paint from berry juice and other plants in nature.
Clothing:
The Plains people would weave geometric designs into their clothing and moccasins. The did not use beads, but rather porcupine quills. The pieces would range in size from 1/8 inch to 5 inches to create their designs.
To learn more information, visit:
http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/plains.html