The Plains Culture was located on the Great Plains in the middle of the United States. This area 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.
Homes (Shelters)
There were two main types of homes in which the Plains 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.
Another kind of home was portable (moveable). This was called a 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.
Food
The Plains Culture Tribes ate foods that were found in their area. The Great Plains were the home of the buffalo. 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.
Tools
Many of the tools were made from parts of the 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).
Clothing
Much of the Plains Culture's clothing came from the 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.
Beliefs
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: 09/09/2012 10:28:16 PM Pictures of earthlodge was found at the following site: http://www.stuhrmuseum.org/tourlodge.htm at the Stuhr museum in Nebraska