Gender and Plains Indian Warfare

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Patrilineal extended kin groups

Egalitarian social structure

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Slide 10

One method of hunting buffalo in the northwestern plains was to drive a herd of buffalo over a cliff. This method required group cooperation and resulted in the shared distribution of meat.

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Slide 11

Pre-Horse Northeast Plains - (Sioux & Cheyenne)

Horticulture, supplemented by hunting bison and other game

Subsistence economy

Horticulture more productive and reliable than hunting

Principal role of women in horticulture

Matrilocal post-marital residence

Matrilineal extended kin groups

Egalitarian social structure

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Slide 12

Subsistence Resources Provided by . . .

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Slide 13

Early Northeastern Plains Indian Location

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Slide 14

Ecological Considerations

1. Impact of the horse and the gun

on bison hunting

2. Impact of the hide trade on bison

hunting

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Slide 15

Impact of the Horse on Plains Indian Life:

Vastly increased their movement

Allowed the accumulation of more property

Could build larger tipis

Could more easily transport children, the elderly and the sick

Horse as a unit of wealth resulted in increasing social distinctions

Nomadic hunting populations acquired a distinct military advantage over settled farmers

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Impact of the Horse and Gun on Bison Hunting:

1. Changed the spatial relationship between

Indians and bison

2. Increased size of hunting territory

3. Increased the speed and effectiveness of the

buffalo hunt

4. Increased reliability of hunting

5. Reduced per capita labor costs (cost/benefit)

6. Individualized bison hunting

7. Industrialized the hunt

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Slide 17

Flow of Trade Goods

on to the Plains

The Buffalo Hide Trade

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Slide 18

Impact of the Hide Trade on

Bison Hunting:

1. Changed Population/Resource (P/R) relationship

between Indians and bison