Facts And homeland
- The Arapaho Tribe migrated into their historical homelands of modern day Colorado and Wyoming from the Great Lakes in the northeast where their tribe had originated.
- Oral history passed down within the tribe tells of a crossing over a great frozen river to the north of Arapaho settlements; with the river most likely being the Missouri.
- Living in the midwest region, the Arapaho Indian's home had an extremely diverse terrain, including areas reaching up to 14,433 ft. in elevation.
- Although the mountains provided sufficient shelter, come winter many would be hard pressed to survive in the below freezing temperatures on the mountainside. It is for this reason and many others that the Arapaho Indians chose to make the planes and prairies their home.
- The plains offered great expanses of flat land; perfect for the buffalo hunting nomadic tribe.
- Unlike other tribes which migrated onto the plains in later centuries, the Arapaho have no traditions or memories of farming, only the preserved history and traditions of a planes tribe.
Ceremonies:
The Arapaho people belived that the power and the life force of a human being eminated from their creator "our father" or "man above"
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The sun dance:
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Clothing:
Food:
- They farmed corn till they acquired horses then started to hunt more
- Men mainly hunted buffalo along with the occasional deer
- Women and children went out and gathered roots, berries, and other fruits
- Their meals were very simple, the ate things fresh and without many spices or seaonings
- Women would pound holes in large rocks placed over a fire, in which they would boil the meat.
- Utensils could be made from animal bones or sticks, but Arapaho indians more commonly used their hands to eat.
- Plated could be fashioned from square strips of raw hide
- another type of bowl could be made out of an animal head. The head would be soaked in water for several days, and when removed it would be stuffed with grass. After drying, the bowl would be used to crush and mix meat.
Homes:
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Tribial weapons:
- Obsidian and flint were some of the most valuable sone for making spear and arrowheads
- One of the most valuable tools was the knife because knives were used to make other weapons and tools
- Obsidian was found near ancient lava flows
- American Indians would find flint in limestone and chalk deposits
- Both obsidian and flint, when struck by another rock or bone will flake, which is known as knapping
- The knapping of the bade by another stone or knife determines the outcome of the shape of the arrow or spearhead
- How the stone is struck and with what force determines the shape of the blade.
- Typical Arapaho weapons consisted of long spears , bows and arrows, and shields made of buffalo hide