To the Lakota, these magnificent animals sustained all life. The Lakota regarded the bison as a gift of the Great Spirit and viewed them as a relative.
At the core of the Lakota culture is the bison or Tatanka. For thousands of years, the lives of the Buffalo Nation and the Lakota people were spiritually and physically interconnected – as herds roamed free across the North American plains, this nomadic tribe followed.
As the bison roamed the Plains, so did the Lakota. The entire existence of the people centered around the bison’s epic migration across the vast plains of North America – from Canada to Mexico; the Pacific Northwest to the Appalachian Mountains.
Following and being close to the buffalo was important; permanence was not. Everything they owned could easily be carried by a person, dog, or horse – the portable homes (tipis), the leather or rawhide containers for mobile storage, the cradles specifically made for easy transport, and the ingenious travois gave them the ability to move the entire camp in one trip.
The location of their camp and the length of time at each site (from months to a few days) was almost solely determined by the location of the bison herd.
Adopting the ways of the bison Pre late 19th century, the great Buffalo Nation numbered in the millions; tribal members were countless. As the bison’s deep understanding of survival is determined by numbers, the Plains Indians knew this to be true as well, and thrived in great numbers.
The bison is brave – they were practically invincible and afraid of nothing – and the fearless native warriors reflected these courageous traits in battle. The bison were also good family members…and so were the people.
Givers of Life To the Lakota, these magnificent animals sustained all life. The Lakota regarded the bison as a gift of the Great Spirit and viewed them as a relative. Whenever one was killed, its sacrifice was honored as a blessing from the Tatanka Oyate.
The bison meant everything…they provided us our shelter, our food, our weapons, our toys. The lives of the people once revolved around the way of the bison. The bison was a connection to the Creator. The bison provided for the people spiritually, culturally, and socially. The bison gave the people life. The bison is life.
At the core of the Lakota culture is the bison or Tatanka. For thousands of years, the lives of the Buffalo Nation and the Lakota people were spiritually and physically interconnected – as herds roamed free across the North American plains, this nomadic tribe followed.
As the bison roamed the Plains, so did the Lakota. The entire existence of the people centered around the bison’s epic migration across the vast plains of North America – from Canada to Mexico; the Pacific Northwest to the Appalachian Mountains.
Following and being close to the buffalo was important; permanence was not. Everything they owned could easily be carried by a person, dog, or horse – the portable homes (tipis), the leather or rawhide containers for mobile storage, the cradles specifically made for easy transport, and the ingenious travois gave them the ability to move the entire camp in one trip.
The location of their camp and the length of time at each site (from months to a few days) was almost solely determined by the location of the bison herd.
Adopting the ways of the bison Pre late 19th century, the great Buffalo Nation numbered in the millions; tribal members were countless. As the bison’s deep understanding of survival is determined by numbers, the Plains Indians knew this to be true as well, and thrived in great numbers.
The bison is brave – they were practically invincible and afraid of nothing – and the fearless native warriors reflected these courageous traits in battle. The bison were also good family members…and so were the people.
Givers of Life To the Lakota, these magnificent animals sustained all life. The Lakota regarded the bison as a gift of the Great Spirit and viewed them as a relative. Whenever one was killed, its sacrifice was honored as a blessing from the Tatanka Oyate.
The bison meant everything…they provided us our shelter, our food, our weapons, our toys. The lives of the people once revolved around the way of the bison. The bison was a connection to the Creator. The bison provided for the people spiritually, culturally, and socially. The bison gave the people life. The bison is life.
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