American Indians used buffalo, not only for food, but also for many other reasons. Some of these were:- the hooves made great pots, the horns made wonderful spoons, the bones were made into war clubs and scrapers, the skins of an old bull was used to make shields and winter moccasins, the skins of a young calf was used to make underclothes and tobacco pouches, the fat was used as soap, the tongue was used as a hairbrush, their sinews were used for strings and backs to the American Indians' bows for thread to string on beads and sew dresses, the hair was braided into halters, and finally the tail was used for a fly brush.
They used the hooves for glue, the hide for tipis and shields, the fur for blankets and clothes, the hair fo stuffing pillows, the tounge for hairbrushes (they were very rough), the shoulder bones and bones for weapons and sledge runners, they also decorated the skull and used it in religeous rituals, and they ate the meat raw, boiled, fried or dried, the horns for cups and scoopers.
In pre-contact America, buffalo, or bison, far outnumbered the human population. As such, although the Indians of the Great Plains killed bison for many reasons, the population was sustained.
As a giver of life, buffalo were revered. Rock art images of buffalo are common, and the few remaining hide paintings depict hunting of them. The Plains people were nomadic, following the buffalo on their annual migration.
Indians killed buffalo with spears launched by atlatals and, after 500 A.D., bows and arrows. A bison hunt was a very dangerous business, as an enraged animal often turned on its attackers. For that reason, people offered up prayers of thanksgiving and to the spirit of the slain animal.
Indians were appalled that Anglo hunters took nothing but the hide and tongues of bison, leaving the rest to rot. Indians used every part of the animal.
They ate and cured the buffalo meat, burned dung for cooking and warmth, harvested brains to tan hides, rendered gallstones for yellow paint pigment, boiled hooves to make glue, carved horns for cups and spoons, used small bones for knives and other tools, sewed hides into robes and tents, used sinew for bowstrings and sewing thread, and used tails for flyswatters.
They used buffalo's for food.they also used buffalo's skin for clothing and shelter.they also eat the buffalo raw or cooked but it would be mixed with different types of things.it would be mixed with fat also.
Chispa sound like he might have some blood too! The white man slaughtered them for sport an left them to die and rot! Read the book"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee!" it was written by us the NDN's. It tells it the way it was!
