Book Review: Indians of the Great Plains: Traditions, History, Legends, and Life

The Native Americans: Indians of the Great Plains: Traditions, History, Legends, and Life by Lisa Sita, Courage Book, Philadelphia, PA, 1999.

The Great Plains is a large area, mostly flat that runs from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains, from Louisiana and then north into Canada.  Many different Native American groups inhabited this areaThese groups included: Arapaho, Comanche, Apache, Dakota (Sioux), Lakota (Sioux), Nakota (Sioux), Omaha, Ponca, Iowa, Kansa, Wichita, Cheyenne and others.  

Their life was greagtly determined by the animals which could be hunted.  The most significant of course was the bison, but also included jack rabbit, deer, pronghorn, wolf, coyote and fox.  Wild turkey, vultures, grouse and migrating geese were also important animals for food.  The bison very much effected life on the prarie.  They had the large hide with which you could make a teepee shelter.  The Native American groups would follow them during the migration so as to supply themselves with meat.  Bones were carved into tools, sinews and tendons were used for sewing, horns were used for utensils, and of course meat and some internal organs for eating.  The hair was woven into rope or stuffing for toys.  The hide was used for teepee cover ot softened for clothing.  Bison chips were used for fire when wood was not plentiful.  

The dog was also important.  They could pull a travois upon wich they could transport the teepee.  They also made companions, and provided protection.  Horses too could pull the travois and carry more material.  

There are many sources of Native American art.  They would decorate their moccasins.  They would pain drum heads and shields.  They would also weave materials for baskets or cradle boards as well as make pottery.  For the Omaha, Ponca and Pawnee a calumet was made to signify relationships such as adoption.  A calumet or stick with eagle feathers attached would be used to signify the forming of a relationship.  Men would also build flutes which with they hoped to gain favor of a woman.  They would also decorate clothing with beads.

Vision quests was an important spiritual journey.  They would also build and use sweat lodges for purification.

I found this book very interesting and informative.