Shelter and Housing
This portable dwelling, made from buffalo hides, was essential for the nomadic tribes of the Plains.
teepee
This large animal was hunted by Plains tribes, providing meat, clothing, tools, and materials for shelter.
bison
This weapon, made from stone or bone, was used by Plains tribes for hunting and warfare.
arrow
This vast, treeless ecosystem characterized the Great Plains, providing habitat for bison and other animals.
a prairie
Plains tribes relied on this skill to navigate the vast, flat landscape, using the stars, sun, and landmarks for direction.
celestial navigation
This shelter, constructed by digging into the earth and covering it with grass and dirt, was used by some Plains tribes in winter.
lodge or pit house
This technique, used by Plains tribes, involved driving large herds of bison over cliffs to ensure a successful hunt.
buffalo jump
This tool, created from bone, stone, or wood, was used to scrape hides clean during the tanning process.
scrapper or flesher
This river, which flows through the Great Plains, was an important water source for many Native American tribes.
the Missouri River
This method of starting a fire, often with flint and steel, was critical for warmth, cooking, and signaling.
fire-making
The ability to construct a sturdy shelter from this material was vital, as it could provide warmth and protection from the wind.
buffalo hide
These small, nutrient-dense seeds, often gathered by Plains tribes, were a staple food source.
sunflower seeds
Plains tribes used this tool, made from a stone blade attached to a wooden handle, for cutting meat and skinning animals.
knife
The Sioux and other Plains tribes called this part of the Great Plains their home, an area known for its open grasslands and wildlife.
the Dakotas or the Great Sioux Nation territory
These skillfully made clothing items, often crafted from the hides of animals, were essential to keep Native Americans of the Great Plains warm during harsh winters.
moccasins and buffalo robes
The process of "teepeeing" involves creating a smoke hole at the top of this structure to allow smoke from a fire to escape.
teepee
The Plains tribes used this method of preserving meat, which involved drying and smoking it over a fire.
jerky
This weapon, essential for hunting bison, was made from wood and sinew and used to kill large animals from a distance.
a bow and arrow
This plant, commonly found across the Plains, was used by Native Americans to weave baskets and create strong cords.
yucca
Plains tribes had detailed knowledge of this method for purifying water, which was essential in the absence of modern filtration systems.
boiling
this portable structure, also used by some Great Plains tribes, is made from a wooden frame covered by hides or woven mats.
wickiup
This plant, often collected in the wild, was used by Native Americans of the Great Plains to supplement their diet, especially in the spring.
wild turnip or prairie turnip
A traditional tool used by Plains tribes to carry large quantities of meat or belongings, often made from animal hides.
a skin or leather pouch
Many Plains tribes knew how to read the weather, often predicting storms or droughts by observing this phenomenon.
cloud patterns or animal behavior
This practice involved utilizing the animal's bones, sinew, and other parts for tools, needles, and even thread, ensuring that little of the animal was wasted.
resourcefulness or utilizing every part of the animal