Food:
* Meat: Buffalo meat was the primary source of protein for Plains Indians. They would often hunt in large groups, using methods like the buffalo jump, to bring down large numbers at once.
* Hide: Dried and cooked buffalo meat was stored for later use. It was often pounded into pemmican, a highly nutritious mixture of dried meat, berries, and fat.
* Fat: Buffalo fat was used for cooking, lighting, and as a sealant for clothing and tools.
* Bone marrow: A rich source of nutrients, bone marrow was eaten directly or boiled down for fat.
Clothing and Shelter:
* Hide: Buffalo hide was used to create a variety of clothing items, including robes, shirts, leggings, moccasins, and blankets. They would also use buffalo hide to build tepees.
* Tendon: Buffalo tendons were used to make bowstrings and other types of string.
* Hair: Buffalo hair was used to make rope, blankets, and insulation for clothing.
Tools and Weapons:
* Bones: Buffalo bones were used to create tools like knives, scrapers, and awls. They were also used to make arrowheads and other weapons.
* Horns: Buffalo horns were used to make spoons, cups, and other utensils. They were also used as ceremonial objects.
* Sinew: Buffalo sinew was used to make thread for sewing and to attach arrowheads to shafts.
Other Uses:
* Dung: Buffalo dung was used as fuel for fires and to fertilize crops.
* Blood: Buffalo blood was used as a food source and also for medicinal purposes.
The buffalo was a truly sacred and valuable resource for the Plains Indians, providing sustenance, clothing, shelter, tools, and even religious inspiration. Their connection to this animal was deeply interwoven into their culture, spirituality, and daily life.