how did the IP survive

• followed the migrating buffalo - food
• excellent horse-riders - they could ride with stampeding buffalo - horse = status, wealth and travel
• men measured the wealth in horses - raids on other tribes or settlers were often to steal horses - 1870 = 2900 Hunkpapa sub-tribe had 3500 horses
• archery skills - shoot from side to kill the fast moving buffalo
• travelled and lived in tipis - they could be built and dismantled quickly - tipis were put on travois
• IP had deep respect for the buffalo and other animals they needed to survive
• IP believed nature must be treated with great respect or the spirits would no longer agree to help them survive
• in the winter most IP stayed in lodges - some lodges were big enough to fit 60 people in - they were built in a circular formation - some lodges had fire pits with beds surrounding it - they were built in sheltered valleys, clustered together for protection