Primary Uses:
* Meat: The most obvious use was as a source of food. Bison meat was plentiful and provided sustenance for both settlers and Native American tribes.
* Hides: Bison hides were incredibly durable and used for clothing, tents, blankets, and even building materials. They were also a valuable commodity that could be traded or sold.
Secondary Uses:
* Bones: Bones were used for tools, weapons, and even fuel for fires.
* Sinews: Tough tendons were used for sewing thread, bowstrings, and other purposes.
* Hair: Bison hair could be woven into blankets, rope, and other items.
* Tongue: Bison tongue was considered a delicacy.
Beyond practical uses, bison were also seen as a symbol of:
* Wildness: The bison's presence represented the vastness and untamed nature of the American West, which appealed to some settlers.
* Economic opportunity: The bison's abundance presented a potential source of wealth through hunting and trade.
* Control and power: By hunting and decimating the bison populations, white settlers asserted their dominance over the land and its resources.
It's important to remember that the value placed on different parts of the bison varied depending on individual needs and circumstances. However, the widespread use of every part of the animal highlights the crucial role it played in the lives of both settlers and Native Americans in the 19th century.