The Importance of Horses and Buffalo to the Sioux

What Buffalo was used for
Buffalo had many uses for the Sioux Indians. Buffalo was probably, besides the horse, the most important animal to this culture. I mean, it was worshiped! The main use was that it provided meat. Meat provided protein, which is essential to any human being. The meat was also dried, so that it could be kept during long periods of time. Another important use was that the buffalos’ hide would be used as a robe. A robe was used to keep warm, sleep with, and to do artwork with. It was especially important during the winter, where it could get freezing cold. Hide could be also used as a suitcase, in which to carry belongings for hunting trips or wars. Of course, they were also used for straight-out trips. Sometimes, the buffalos’ hooves were boiled to make glue! They used glue for many things, but especially art. One of the most interesting, and smartest things they used the buffalo for, was to use its’ bladder to carry food and water! I mean, a bladder is waterproof, and perfect to hold water. Of course, if it’s clean! I would personally hate people taking my bladder out.

Fur Trade
When the white colonists had built big cities, and had been trading with the Indians for many years, the Indians started to trade buffalo hides. There were many different types and qualities of buffalo hide. The thing about buffalo, though, was that it didn’t provide fine furs, but its hides were very warm. Because they were so warm, many people bought them for the winter months. The lowest quality hides were shipped in bales, in which they were easy to transport but less taken care of. These hides were cheap and were often sold worldwide. These hides were also used to make belts, because it wouldn’t tear under strain. These belts were widely popular. One thing these hides weren’t good for was shoes. They were way too tough to make shoes out of. No one would buy them, anyway. Some of the finer hides were used as robes on carriages. These hides were hairier and softer. The most expensive hides were decorated with art. They were decorated with things like quills, beadwork, or paint. It is a shame that today buffalo is extinct.


Hunting the Buffalo
Because buffalo are so skittish, the Sioux hunters had many strategies on how to hunt them. One of the most original and easiest methods to hunt buffalo was on foot. You could hide behind trees or bushes, and quietly hunt buffalo. One disadvantage is that this is slow and non-efficient. In earlier years, hunters were armed with spears, bows and arrows. But as trade grew, they started to hunt with rifles. The hunters would disguise themselves in wolf skin, which turned out to be very effective. They would try to ambush the herds near drop-offs, so they could get an easy kill. If the Indians were hunting with horses, they would circle the herd, chant, and shoot. The Indians were so accurate, that they could shoot right through the buffalo. Because buffalo was so heavy, they had to figure a way to not only catch them, but to be able to bring them home. They would bring two horses- one for chasing the buffalo, and a strong horse to carry the buffalo home. As soon as the Sioux saw buffalo, they’d jump of the strong horse onto the fast horse. They would then chase the buffalo until it tired out. Once they killed the buffalo, they would use the strong horse to carry it home. The Sioux were very skilled huntsmen- colonists would actually use the Sioux methods of hunting to hunt buffalo as well! That goes to prove that the Sioux are the toughest Indians in South Dakota.

The Impact of the Horse
Today, we can see that horses greatly shaped the Sioux Indians. However, no one knows how the Sioux acquired these great animals. Some historians believe that Hernando Cortez brought horses to North America, but still no one knows for certain how some actually became in the possession of these Native Americans. After a long period of time owning horses, the Sioux Indians had bred enough herds of horses for everyone to ride. By this, I mean men, women, slaves and even little children. Before the Sioux had all these horses, they had a harder time hunting buffalo. But once they did, it greatly increased their mobility. It also allowed the Indians to hunt more buffalo, faster. Horses were important for hunting, but they also increased mobility in other ways, such as being able to pull goods for long distances, which in the long run helped with trade. Originally, before the Sioux could hunt more buffalo, they had less dried meat, which affected the amount of food they had that lasted a long time, and didn’t need to be tossed after a few days. Of course, once they acquired horses, dried meat was plentiful. Horses affected their culture as well. Wealth was measured in terms of horses. The more horse you had, the more “money” they had. Horses also affected religion. The Indians worshiped buffalo more, since it was now their main food source. Imagine what the Sioux Indians would be like today without horses.

Horses and Power
Horses were a great symbol of power for the Sioux Indians. During the timeframe when the Sioux had horses, the Sioux started to push other tribes out of South Dakota and the surrounding areas. Because of this, many horse-warrior legends were made, although many are unknown. When the Sioux were taking over South Dakota, they were pushing tribes like the Cheyenne into Montana. This was done easily because the Sioux had more horses than the other tribes. The main reason why these Indians were doing this was to get more hunting grounds and grasses for their animals. The Cheyenne warriors tried very hard to stop the Sioux, but with fewer horses, they failed. Smaller tribes joined the Cheyenne, but with no success. Eventually, only the Cheyenne warriors allied with the Sioux to take control of the surrounding areas. Just like the saying, if you can’t beat them, join them! This continued for many years. Ironically, while other tribes were getting fewer horses, the Sioux just kept breading more and more. The other tribes’ horses were either being captured or killed. This conquest was considered the greatest Indian march of conquest In U.S. history! The Sioux Indians are now considered one of the most power hungry tribes ever!