Today the image of the Plains American Indians is inseparable from that of the horse. But until a few hundred years ago Native Americans traveled and hunted on foot, they relied on dogs and used other ways to carrel and hunt the mighty bison.
One can learn much more about the lives of the Great Plains tribes in different museums around the Great Plains. Over in the east in North Carolina, one can visit the Oconalufteee Indian Village of the Cherokee. It is a living museum that educates visitors on the lives and traditions of the Cherokee.
History of The Horse And Reintroduction To North America
Horses have a particularly unique and odd relationship with North America. The horse evolved in North America around 40 million years ago and then migrated to Asia over the Bering land bridge. Soon after the arrival of humans (perhaps causal - perhaps not), they disappeared from North America around 10,000 years ago. Horses went on to become domesticated around Mongolia thousands of years ago. When the Spanish arrived they brought descendants of these domesticated horses with them.
They were either let go by the Spanish or they escaped and soon there were wild populations of horses in North America once again.
- Taino Tribe of The Caribbean: Were Terrified By What They Saw As a Half-Man, Half-Beast With The Horse
At first, as the native tribes of the continent encountered the horse, they were often afraid and awed by its speed and power. Their closest reference was the dog, so they sometimes gave it names like “elk dog,” “sky dog” and “holy dog” according to History.com.
With the Pueblo Uprising of 1680, the Spanish were driven out and their horses were captured and traded with neighboring tribes. They were quickly moved across the trade routes to the Navajo, Ute, Apache, and then the Comanche of the southern Plains. By 1700 they had reached the far Northwest and eastward to the Lakota, Crow, and Cheyenne of the northern Plains.
These animals not only transformed fighting but also the hunting of the mighty buffalo (aka bison). This meant they could easier hunt the bison, stead of chasing them off a cliff.
Visit The Museum of the Plains Indian
If one is traveling along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, one of the hidden gems is that of the Museum of the Plains Indian. It is located near Glacier National Park in Browning, Montana.
This museum is a collaboration of the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. At this museum, one can delve into the art, historical clothing, horse, gear, weapons, and other artifacts of the Northern Tribal Plains people.
- Founded: The Museum Was Founded in 1941
- Tribes: The Tribes Covered At The Museum Include the Blackfeet, Crow, Northern Cheyenne, Sioux, Assiniboine, Arapaho, Shoshone, Nez Perce, Flathead, Chippewa, and Cree
One can also ask questions of the staff here. They are knowledgeable in the history and rich cultural practices of the Native American Indians - and those who dwelt on the Great Plains.
The exhibits at the Museum of the Plains Indian rotate seasonally and there is a small gift shop offering authentic crafts made by emerging and local Native American artists.
Admission:
- In Summer: Adult Admission Is $6.00 and Children (Aged 6 to 16) is $2.00
- Off-Season: In Fall, Winter, and Spring, Admission is Free For All
While in Montana, visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument to the fateful clash that pitted the clash of cultures and General Custer and Crazy Horse against each other.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Another great museum to learn about the peoples who roamed the Great Plains of North America is the Buffalo Bill Center of the West - at their Plains Indian Museum. They are located in Cody, Wyoming just one hour away from Yellowstone. One can see their prices and seasonal hours on their website.
The museum says of its Plains Indian Museum:
"This Native American museum explores the lives of Plains Indian peoples, cultures and traditions over hundreds of years. View timeless Plains Indians artifacts and check out how Plains Indian tribal traditions are being sustained and celebrated today. It’s a must-see on the road to Yellowstone."
This museum has five museums under one roof. Here one can explore Plains Indian cultures, the cowboys and cowgirls, classic and modern artworks, and more. Their museums are:
- Buffalo Bill Museum: See Possessions of Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley and Learn about The Stories of The American West
- Plains Indian Museum: See Stories of Plains Indian Cultures, Traditions, Trials, and Triumphs (Past and Present)
- Cody Firearms Museum: Includes Over 10,000 Artifacts Perfect For Firearms Enthusiasts As Well as Casual Visitors
- Draper Natural History Museum: An Immersive Museum On The Diversity and Specialness of Yellowstone
- Whitney Western Art Museum: Exhibits Timeless Classics From Remington, Russell, Moran, and Bierstadt