People of the plains CORE LESSON 4 – PAGES 60-63

The Great Plains - Lie in the center of North America - Stretch from Mississippi River to Rocky Mountains and from Texas to Canada

Eastern Plains  Occupied by tribes including the Pawnee and Omaha  Rainfall made farming successful  Built villages near river  Lodge: Home made of bark, earth, grass. Provided protection from cold and stormy weather  Farmed in spring and fall  Hunted in summer and winter

Western Plains  Dry weather = difficult farming  Relied on buffalo  Provided meat  Bones could be used to make tools  Hair could be made into rope  Tail = fly swatter  Skin used for shelter, blankets, clothing, drums, and shields

Western Plains (Continued)  Occupied by nomads  Nomad: Person who moves around and does not live in one place  Carried belongings using a travois  Travois: Similar to sled, usually pulled by a dog  Lived in teepee (Cone shaped tent) – Easy to set up and take down

The Comanche  Skilled horseriders, hunter, and warriors  Brought horses to North America in 1500’s  By 1700’s, almost all American Indians had horses  Made life easier to hunt and travel  Wealth measured by how many horses owned

The Comanche (continued)  Migrated from Wyoming to Oklahoma and Texas  Lived as nomads  Were fierce warriors  Became one of the most powerful Plains groups (nations)  Became known as “The Lords of the Southern Plains”  Had wealth and strength

Comanche Government  Divided into groups, hunted and traveled freely  Chose leaders (chiefs)  Different chiefs for war and peace

Comanche Today  About 8500 live in US today  Most live as farmers/ranchers in Oklahoma  Still have own government