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What is the Plains Culture Like? The Plains Culture
was located on the Great Plains in the middle of the United States.
This area
There were two
main types of homes in which the Plains
Another kind of
home was portable (moveable). This was called a
Food
Back to Top Clothing
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The Plains Culture tribes often worshiped the Great Spirit. They believed that all things came from the Great Spirit. A buffalo head was often put on an altar to represent the gifts of the Great Spirit. These Native Americans would thank the Great Spirit for the gift of the animals they killed for food. Page constructed by B. Jones - Technology Instructor Specialist with the Bellevue, Nebraska Public Schools (BA and MS in Elementary Education and Curriculum and Instruction) Updated: 10/26/2005 11:48:18 AM Pictures of earthlodge was found at the following site: http://www.stuhrmuseum.org/tourlodge.htm at the Stuhr museum in Nebraska |
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would later become North and South
Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Montana, Texas, and parts
of Colorado. The Plains tribes were often called the People of the
Buffalo. Four important tribes in this culture included the
Comanche, Sioux (Dakota), Cheyenne, and Arapaho. Other tribes found
here were the Ponca, Pawnee, Omaha, Oto, Kansa, Kiowa, Osage, Comanche,
Wichita, Apache, and many other.
Culture people lived. One type was
an earth lodge. An earth lodge was generally round and was made a
bit like a round dome-shape. It was held up with poles arranged in a
circular shape. Strong thick branches were also used
to help hold
the mud and sod that were packed tightly around the log frames.
These homes were usually dug down a bit into the earth. There was a
hole in the center to let smoke from fires escape. Usually, there
was only one opening in which to enter and leave.
tepee. The tepee was made
of tree trunks that were about 5 to ten inches around. The tepees
could be moved easily so the tribe could follow the buffalo. The
poles of the tepee were covered with buffalo hide and often decorated.
The buffalo gave these tribes most of what they needed. The people would
hunt the buffalo as a group. One buffalo could feed 100 people.
The left over meat was dried or
smoked
and stored for later use. The women gathered berries and roots which
were also a part of their food. The Plains people only killed the
number of buffalo that they needed to live.
buffalo.
The hip bones were used as hoes for cultivating gardens. The horns
were used as cups, spoons, and even toys. Some of the bones were
even made into weapons. The tail was used as a whip or for swatting
at flies. A shield was made out of wood and buffalo hide.
Drums were made of hollowed logs and stretched hide. They made their
own arrowheads, knives, and hatchets (usually out of chipped stone). 
buffalo.
The men wore pants or loin cloth make from buffalo hide. Women wore
buffalo hide dresses. Blankets of buffalo fur were used as coats,
blankets, and bedding. These people also wore clothing made from
deer,
antelope, and elk skin. Their clothing was often decorated with dyes
made of berries, ground rocks, or charcoal.