Important animal reasource of great plain Indians

Buffalo

http://www.livescience.com/32115-bison-vs-buffalo-whats-the-difference.html

http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-indians/great-plains-indians.htm

The important animal resource for the Great Plains Indians was the buffalo, also known as the American bison. The buffalo played a vital role in the lives of these Native American tribes, providing them with food, clothing, and shelter.

To understand why the buffalo was such an important resource, we can explore the following:

1. Food: Buffalo meat was their primary source of food. The Great Plains Indians hunted buffalo and used different parts of the animal for sustenance. They consumed the meat, used the bones for tools and weapons, and utilized the organs for various purposes.

2. Clothing: The buffalo provided the tribes with skins that were used to make clothing and other materials. The thick hide of the buffalo could be tanned and turned into sturdy clothing such as robes, moccasins, and leggings, which offered protection from the harsh weather conditions on the plains.

3. Shelter: The buffalo also played a role in providing shelter. The tribes used buffalo hides to construct their traditional dwellings, known as tipis or teepees. These portable and versatile structures were made by stretching the buffalo hides over a framework of poles. This allowed the tribes to easily move their dwellings as they followed the buffalo herds.

To summarize, the buffalo was an important animal resource for the Great Plains Indians because it provided them with food, clothing, and shelter. The tribes hunted buffalo, utilized their meat for sustenance, their hides for clothing, and their bones and organs for various purposes. This deep connection to the buffalo allowed the Native American tribes to thrive on the Great Plains.