Download Native American uses of the buffalo
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Many of the Plains Indians originally came from the Woodlands. In the Woodlands, Indian life was based on hunting the buffalo and simple farming. Most of the Plains was unsuitable for farming as Indians didn’t have the tools to use on the difficult Plains soils.
By surrounding a herd of buffalo, Indians could kill all of them in about 15 minutes. It was noisy and dangerous as the confused animals ran around in a circle of panic
Once the animals had been killed, the women came in to skin and butcher them where they lay. The women carried their meat and skins home, where they put them to a great variety of uses. The thick strong skin of old bulls was used for shields and winter moccasins.
The thin skin of a calf was made into underclothes and tobacco pouches. Buffalo fat was used for soap, and the rough side of the tongue was used for hairbrushes.
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