Indians Life, beliefs, survival on the plains Flashcards
What were the social & tribal structures of the tribes?
Tribes were divided into bands, each with a chief and council.
What did chief/council do?
They decided what bands did.
What was the word to describe the Indians’ lifestyle?
Nomadic
What was life on the Great Plains like?
There was nothing - no trees, no resources, isolated. They were following the buffalo, there were droughts so they couldn’t farm. Tough climate very hot summers, very cold winters.
What were the men’s jobs in the tribes?
They hunted and fought.
What were the women’s jobs in the tribes?
They made clothes, prepared food, looked after tipi.
What were children taught?
Indian skills.
True or False: The band was prioritised more than the individuals with it.
True - The Indians cared for the band as a whole, not individuals. They worked together.
What happened when people got too old?
The Indians respected the Elders and were left behind to die, as they would slow down the band.
What animals did the Indians rely on?
Horses and Buffalo.
Why was the buffalo so important?
They used every part as much as possible to respect the buffo. Cause of their nomadic lifestyle. The buffalo was used for food, clothes, equipment.
Why did the Indians use Tipis?
The cone shape protected them from strong winds, packed away quickly, and could be altered for different weathers.
What were the Indians’ beliefs?
They believed everything had a spirit, they should work with nature - not against it,
They ‘contacted’ spirits through visions and dances. They had sacred land - no ownership.
Counting coup (touch an enemy with a stick), don’t stand and fight but run away.
Circle of life.
Taking the enemy’s scalp so they don’t see them in the afterlife.
What was one of their sacred lands called?
The Black Hills.
Who did they believe created the world?
Wakan Tanka - all land was owned by them.
