Foods:
The Kiowa Indians staple food (main food) was the American buffalo. Every part of the buffalo was used. The buffalo provided not only meat, but also buffalo skin teepee (tipi) covers, clothing (hide robes), fuel (dry buffalo dung), tools, weapons, and equipment (ropes and rawhide envelopes for keeping food). They even made glue with hoofs, and turned bones into ornaments and buffalo tails into fly swatters! The men drove the buffalo off cliffs or shot them with a bow and arrow to kill them. They also hunted and ate small game such as birds and rabbits. Other natural foods they ate included wild potatoes, fruits, and nuts. They occasionally traded corn with neighboring tribes. They had many different varieties of foods to eat!
Religion:
The Kiowa Tribe peoples believed in many things! They especially respected the bear, bison, and eagle. The Kiowa Tribe often had ceremonies, such as the Sun Dance, and the Scalp Dance. The Sun Dance was held annually until 1887 when the Government and Military Force prohibited it. The Scalp Dance is performed only when men are returning from war. Kiowa peoples beliefs were a mixture of Kiowa tradition, and Christian Influence.
Climate:
The Kiowa Tribe peoples were nomads (people who don't stay in one place for a long period of time), so the weather had a large range. Summers were very hot, getting up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The average in the summers is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are quite lower, around 10-30 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind speeds are often very high in the Western Plains. Sometimes winds can be strong enough to create dust storms, which are occasionally quite harmful. Every year the average is 20 inches or more rain water. It rains throughout the whole year. The weather in the Plains had quite a large range!
Entertainment:
Kiowa peoples did indeed work hard throughout the day, but there were times that they had time to amuse themselves. They were famous for there crafts, such as bead work, hide paintings, and parfleche (which is decorated rawhide containers). At certain events the Kiowa peoples danced or played the flute to accompany some of the traditional hymns.These hymns usually represented beliefs of the tribe. Another way to entertain was to tell stories. The stories were either legends, or fairy tales. These stories would be passed down from generation to generation. Though kids had more chores and less time to play, they still had dolls, toys, and games. One common game was called the hoop game. This game was popular among the children of the tribes to play when chores were finished. After a hard day at work Kiowa peoples had a chance to amuse themselves.
Culture:
The lifestyles of the Kiowa peoples was much different than our lifestyles are today. The woman of the family would do the cooking and cleaning, sewing, and repairing clothes. Usually girls would follow their mother, and do as they were told. Boys would occasionally get schooled, and would sometimes be allowed to go buffalo hunting with the older men. This was considered a great honor for boys. Sometimes children would also fish or gather berries and other various growing foods. Did you know that when Spanish settlers brought horses to the United States, Kiowa peoples abandoned farming to follow herds of buffalo? Before Kiowa peoples were nomads they farmed. When the horses were brought to them they had a way to travel easier. So they left there farming, and followed the herds of buffalo. They constantly had to move, so that is why they have teepee's, because they are easy to take down and put back up. As well as that, not until 1840 did Kiowa make peace with Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Among other tribe, the Kiowa peoples were considered the most predatory. In 1837 they made their first treaty with the Government. They had to live a hard life.
Interesting Facts:
The Kiowa peoples were very unique! The Kiowa peoples lived in a shelter called the teepee (tipi). The teepee is a cone shaped home that is supported by wooden frames that were easy to take apart and put back together. They would carry these wooden frames when they followed the herds of buffalo's. The outer part of the teepee is buffalo hide. The Kiowa tribe were nomads, so this teepee was convenient because it was easy to put together and take apart. The language spoken by the Kiowa peoples was called Tanoan, or Kiowa-Tanoan. Some of the words included:
English: Kiowa-Tanoan:
One Pa
Woman Ma
Man Ch'i
Sun Pay
Moon P'ahy
Also, the Kiowa tribe liked to trade with Pueblo and the Mandan tribes. They traded every time they met up with the tribe on there way following the herds of buffalo.
The clothing they wore was totally different from our modern day clothing! The girls wore deerskin dresses with bright colored designs. The would braid or leave there hair down. The men wore leather leggings, and braided their hair. On special occasions they would sometimes paint their face with bright colors, or wrap their hair in fur. The woman would usually carry their babies on a cradle board on their backs.
They were so unique!
Culture:
The lifestyles of the Kiowa peoples was much different than our lifestyles are today. The woman of the family would do the cooking and cleaning, sewing, and repairing clothes. Usually girls would follow their mother, and do as they were told. Boys would occasionally get schooled, and would sometimes be allowed to go buffalo hunting with the older men. This was considered a great honor for boys. Sometimes children would also fish or gather berries and other various growing foods. Did you know that when Spanish settlers brought horses to the United States, Kiowa peoples abandoned farming to follow herds of buffalo? Before Kiowa peoples were nomads they farmed. When the horses were brought to them they had a way to travel easier. So they left there farming, and followed the herds of buffalo. They constantly had to move, so that is why they have teepee's, because they are easy to take down and put back up. As well as that, not until 1840 did Kiowa make peace with Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Among other tribe, the Kiowa peoples were considered the most predatory. In 1837 they made their first treaty with the Government. They had to live a hard life.
Interesting Facts:
The Kiowa peoples were very unique! The Kiowa peoples lived in a shelter called the teepee (tipi). The teepee is a cone shaped home that is supported by wooden frames that were easy to take apart and put back together. They would carry these wooden frames when they followed the herds of buffalo's. The outer part of the teepee is buffalo hide. The Kiowa tribe were nomads, so this teepee was convenient because it was easy to put together and take apart. The language spoken by the Kiowa peoples was called Tanoan, or Kiowa-Tanoan. Some of the words included:
English: Kiowa-Tanoan:
One Pa
Woman Ma
Man Ch'i
Sun Pay
Moon P'ahy
Also, the Kiowa tribe liked to trade with Pueblo and the Mandan tribes. They traded every time they met up with the tribe on there way following the herds of buffalo.
The clothing they wore was totally different from our modern day clothing! The girls wore deerskin dresses with bright colored designs. The would braid or leave there hair down. The men wore leather leggings, and braided their hair. On special occasions they would sometimes paint their face with bright colors, or wrap their hair in fur. The woman would usually carry their babies on a cradle board on their backs.
They were so unique!
No comments:
Post a Comment