Plains Indian society and beliefs Flashcards
Did all Plains Indian tribes get along?
No - some were sworn enemies and would fight on sight
What name was given to large tribes such as the Sioux?
Nations
How many people could be in a band within a tribe?
20-30 or several hundred
When would all the different bands in a tribe meet, and for what purpose?
In the summer for a great tribal camp
A social and religious occasion, but also to co-operate to ensure survival on the Plains
Give two ways bands could be organised within tribes
1) Bands come together frequently and people could move between bands (e.g. the Comanches)
2) Each band has a separate village (e.g. the Pawnee)
What tribes made up the Sioux nation?
Lakota, Dakota and Nakota
How many sub-tribes made up the Lakota Sioux tribe?
7
What gender were chiefs?
Men
Give three examples of types of chief
1) A war chief
2) A spiritual chief
3) A chief who led negotiations with other tribes
Why did the system of chiefs lead to problems with the white Americans?
The white Americans found it difficult to understand that one tribe could have multiple chiefs
Why would someone be chosen to be a chief?
Their wisdom, leadership and spiritual powers, or their skill as warriors and hunters
Were chiefs in position for life?
Rarely
What role did the band chief play?
They guided the band in finding enough to eat and protected the band from danger
Who made up the tribal council?
Band chiefs and elders
What did the tribal council decide?
Where to declare war or negotiate peace
How were decisions made in the tribal council?
Unanimously - everyone had to agree
Did bands have to follow chiefs?
No - in tribes like the Lakota Sioux, they could make their own decisions
Name three famous chiefs
Red Cloud
Sitting Bull
Crazy Horse
Who would be part of the warrior brotherhood?
Young men who had proved their bravery and skill
What did warrior brotherhoods teach their members?
They taught about the tribe’s beliefs and values
What did warrior brotherhoods NOT have to respect?
Peace treaties negotiated by tribal councils
What would leading men from the warrior brotherhoods join?
The guard unit
What did the guard unit do?
1) Organised the tribe’s yearly buffalo hunt
2) Looked after old and ill tribe members
3) Chose where the tribe should gather to make camp
What was the Last Child Society?
A warrior brotherhood in the Oglala Sioux made up of only youngest sons, said to be the bravest and most daring
What role did women play in a tribe?
Feeding and clothing their families
Processing buffalo hides and meat
Were women respected in Plains Indians society?
Yes - they had a specialised role
What was the key resource for the Plains Indians?
The buffalo
What was the fat of the buffalo used for?
For cooking and making soap
What was the skin of the buffalo used for?
Made into leather for clothing, bags, horse harnesses and tipis
What was the bladder of the buffalo used for?
Food bags or water skins
What were the bones of the buffalo used for?
For making arrow heads, tools, jewellery, and frames for sledges
What benefits did horses bring to the Plains Indians?
Allowed them to live a nomadic lifestyle, following the buffalo herds as they migrated across the Plains
What did the Plains Indians use horses to carry?
People, sledges carrying folded-down tipis, and camp equipment
How did the Plains Indians kill the buffalo?
They would fire arrows or guns while riding their horses at full speed
What evidence suggests that horses were important status symbols to the Plains Indians?
They were stolen during warfare, and Plains Indians often measured their wealth in the number of horses they owned
Why was buffalo skin a suitable material to make into the tipi?
It was light and easy to carry, and it did not need a lot of wood to make the frame
What did Plains Indians believed was contained in everything in nature?
A spirit
How did Plains Indians believed they could contact the spirit world?
Through ‘vision quests’, guided by spirit animals, or special ritual dances
What was the sacred land of the Lakota Sioux?
The Black Hills of South Dakota
What activities were seen as disrespectful to the land in Plains Indian beliefs?
Farming or mining
What did Plains Indians believe about the status of land?
It could not be bought or sold
Describe TWO ways Plains Indian tribes minimised the number of men killed in raids
1) The raid would only go ahead if it looked as if it would work
2) Only selected brotherhoods would go on a raid
What was ‘counting coup’?
A special type of fighting in which a warrior would attempt to hit or touch (not kill) an enemy and get away without being injured or killed
