PLAINS VOCABULARY
 
Buckskin-  Softened deerskin.  To make it more flexible, Plains Indians rubbed it with a mixture of softened brains and liver.

Hide- A raw, untanned animal skin.

Loin Cloth- A strip of soft, tanned skin or cloth, which was worn by men between their legs; it was folded over a belt at the front and back.  In battle it was considered brave to capture an enemy’s loin cloth.

Maize- Corn

Medicine Bundles-  A collection of objects and materials which the Indians believed had spiritual power. 

Nomads-  People who travel from place to place, usually following animals for food.

Parfleches-  A tough bag or box made from rawhide with the hair removed.  It was usually painted or decorated and the Plains Indians used it to carry food and a variety of items.

Preserve-  To dry meat, fruit and vegetables.  Plains Indians did this to stop the food from rotting so that it could be kept for a long time.

Quill work-  An ancient sewing technique that uses dyed porcupine quills or occasionally bird quills for decoration.

Rawhide-  Dehaired and cleaned hide.  It is as flexible and workable as cloth when wet, but becomes hard and stiff when dry.

Teepee-  A portable tent made of buffalo hide cover and wooden supporting poles.
 

 
Artwork
Clothing
Food
Housing
Religion
 

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Edited on April 21, 1998
by Bridgette Zellers, IUB