The Arapaho:The Arapaho: History & History &Culture Culture

By: Isaiah KeyesBy: Isaiah Keyes

The Original Inuna-ingThe Original Inuna-ing

Living in the west, the Living in the west, the Arapaho used to hunt Arapaho used to hunt much buffalo, moving much buffalo, moving with the animals.with the animals.

They lived in teepees, They lived in teepees, tall tents that were made tall tents that were made of wooden poles with of wooden poles with buffalo skin stretched buffalo skin stretched around it. around it.

Northwestern University Library, Edward S. Curtis's 'The North American Indian': the Photographic Images, 2001. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ienhtml/curthome.html

Savage or Smart?Savage or Smart?

Though often seen as savage, the Indians were very Though often seen as savage, the Indians were very intelligent and learned to survive on the harsh plains.intelligent and learned to survive on the harsh plains.

They were very organized and everyone had a They were very organized and everyone had a necessary job to help the community.necessary job to help the community.

They knew to crush berries into patties to dry and They knew to crush berries into patties to dry and eat in the winter.eat in the winter.

They used natural substances to create medicine.They used natural substances to create medicine.

Their relationship with natureTheir relationship with nature

The skunk was the medicine The skunk was the medicine man.man.

The Hawthorn bush was The Hawthorn bush was supposed to be connected to supposed to be connected to Thunder Bird, who was Thunder Bird, who was involved in creation.involved in creation.

This is true: plum pits on a This is true: plum pits on a basket represented burrs on basket represented burrs on the fur of a buffalo!the fur of a buffalo!

Almost EVERYTHING represented something

Peaceful RelationshipsPeaceful Relationships

The tribe swelled to such a huge The tribe swelled to such a huge size that they needed to split into size that they needed to split into the Northern and Southern tribes.the Northern and Southern tribes.

In 1846, the Arapaho, Cheyenne In 1846, the Arapaho, Cheyenne and other tribes were united in and other tribes were united in peace.peace.

Before the settlers, the Arapaho got along with many people.

Warring Relationships Warring Relationships

18 years later, the same tribes 18 years later, the same tribes were under a truce flag when were under a truce flag when 700 U.S. soldiers marched to 700 U.S. soldiers marched to Sand Creek and massacred Sand Creek and massacred 150 women, children and 150 women, children and elderly.elderly.

At Little Bighorn in 1876, At Little Bighorn in 1876, they fought General George they fought General George A. Custer.A. Custer.

Copyright © 1995-2007 Denver Public Library, Colorado Historical Society, and Denver Art Museum

The Sand Creek monument in Colorado.

TODAYTODAY

These days, the Arapaho These days, the Arapaho do not roam through the do not roam through the Western States. Now Western States. Now they live in reservations they live in reservations there. Instead of a chief there. Instead of a chief to rule, they have a to rule, they have a council. Instead of council. Instead of finding buffalo to eat, finding buffalo to eat, they buy they buy store-bought/packaged store-bought/packaged meat. Life has changed meat. Life has changed much. much.

http://danks.netfirms.com/mulie.htmhttp://www.rockleigh.org/toc.htm

http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC063384/handling%20a%20rabbit.htmhttp://www.birdsofprey.blm.gov/nat-res/prfa.htm

Works CitedWorks Cited

American PeoplesAmerican Peoples. New York : Dorling Kindersley, 1996.. New York : Dorling Kindersley, 1996.

““The Arapaho Project.” The Arapaho Project.” Colorado.edu.Colorado.edu. University of Colorado and the University of Colorado and the Colorado Endowment for the Humanities. 2004. 01 June 2007. Colorado Endowment for the Humanities. 2004. 01 June 2007. http://www.colorado.edu/csilw/newarapproj2.htmhttp://www.colorado.edu/csilw/newarapproj2.htm

Heth, Charlotte. “Eagle Dance (Northern Arapaho).” Songs of Earth, Water, Heth, Charlotte. “Eagle Dance (Northern Arapaho).” Songs of Earth, Water, Fire and Sky: Music of the American Indian, 1976.Fire and Sky: Music of the American Indian, 1976.