Buffalo

The plains buffalo of North America was an integral part of all
Aboriginal people's lives, but in particular the Metis Nation. Among
their many other names, the Metis were also known as the "Buffalo
Hunters". During the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Metis Nation
established themselves as the processors and suppliers of Pemmican
to the new world. The nation's gross national product from this
source was larger than either fledgling nation of Canada or the
United States. Although the Metis sustained themselves in a variety
of ways (such as fishing, trapping for furs, practicing small-scale
agriculture and working as wage labourers for the Hudson's Bay
Company) they were first and foremost buffalo hunters. The buffalo
herds were their major source of subsistence and trade goods. Every
summer, and again in the fall, hundreds of Metis families with their
Red River carts, horses, oxen and dogs set out for the buffalo
plains of North Dakota. These buffalo hunting expeditions were
carefully organized and became the foundation of Metis government. A
leader of the hunt was selected, scouts were chosen and rules were
arranged before the expedition ever set forth. The great size of
these hunting expeditions has drawn comment. Alexander Ross, a
resident of the Red River Settlement writing in 1856 felt that the
camp of the 1840 hunt covered an area equal to that of a modern
city. This particular expedition contained 620 men, 650 women, 360
children and 1,210 Red River carts. This hunt was by no means the
largest Red River hunt ever assembled. The North American Plains
buffalo (bison) was a creature ideally suited to the central
grassland areas of North America. They wandered in huge herds
(estimated in the millions) north-south or east-west. Their range of
territory was anywhere the grass grew. Click here to see a map. The
buffalo was considered a very sacred animal by all Aboriginal people
of the Plains. The buffalo was their main source of food, clothing,
household articles, and in the case of the Metis, their livelihood.
All parts of the animal were used and many parts had many uses:
RAWHIDE Containers Shields Buckets Moccasin Soles Drums Splints
Mortars Cinches Ropes Sheaths Saddles Blankets Stirrups Bull Boats
Masks Parfleche Ornaments Lariats Straps Caps Quirts Snowshoes
Shroud BUCKSKIN Cradles Moccasin Tops Winter Robes Bedding Shirts
Belts Leggings Dresses Bags Quivers Tipi Covers Tipi Liners Bridles
Backrests Tapestries Sweatlodge HAIR Headdresses Pad Fillers Pillows
Ropes Ornaments Hair Pieces Halters Bracelets Medicine Balls
Moccasin Lining Doll Stuffing Amulets Bridle Decorations BONES
Fleshing Tools Pipes Knives Arrowheads Shovels Splints Sleds Saddle
Trees War Clubs Scrapers Quirts Awls Paintbrushes Game Dice
Tableware HORNS Arrow Points Cups Fire Carrier Powderhorn Spoons
Ladles Headdresses Toys PAUNCH and STOMACH LININGS Meat Wrappings
Buckets Cups Basins Canteen Bowls Containers TAIL Medicine Switch
Fly brush Decorations Whips Toys Jewelry FAT Tallow Soap Hair Grease
Cosmetics Cooking Medicines SKULL Masks Medicine Prayers Rituals Sun
dance Decoration MUSCLES Glue Thread Arrow ties Cinches Bow strings
HOOVES, FEET, DEWCLAWS Glue Rattles Decorations Rituals Spoons BEARD
Ornamentation Toys Doll Decoration Rituals Masks FOOD Pemmican
Sausages Jerky Blood pudding Soup BLADDER Pouches Bags Medicine
CHIPS Fuel Diaper Powder TEETH Ornamentation TONGUE Comb Choice Food
BRAIN and LIVER Hide Preparation Tanning SCROTUM Rattles Containers
TENDONS Sewing Bow Strings PAINTS Blood (Red/brown) Gall (Yellow)
Stomach Contents HIND LEG SKIN Preshaped moccasin No wonder
Aboriginal people thought this animal was sacred and little wonder
their lives where impacted and almost destroyed by the decline and
eventual extermination of the Plains Buffalo. Metis people were very
familiar with the way of the New World and how to capitalize on the
needs of the people. They had been brought up and created through
the fur trade. The Metis had forged and changed the very presence of
the companies entering this arena and had opened their own trading
company in the 1700s (The NorthWest Company). So it's not surprising
that the Metis dominated in the Pemmican trade in the late 1700s and
into the 1800s: beginning with their organization of the buffalo
hunt and institution of Laws of the Prairies.