Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 22 M O N T A N A ' S M A G N I F I C E N T INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' KEY TO SURVIVAL ON THE UNFORGIVING PLAINS The faint, pastel glow of the sunrise seems to creep in earlier over the wide-open plains covering the eastern two-thirds of Big Sky Country than it does over the neighboring mountain towns to the west. Out on the prai- rie, the land stretches on to the far-off horizon, meeting the new day as it breaks over the edge of the earth without mountains or towering trees to obscure its spectacular glory. You'd be hard-pressed to witness a land- scape as replete with intrinsic beauty as the endless patchwork of fields and rolling grass- lands that comprise Montana's flatlands. Prickly cacti, scatterings of bright wildflowers, herds of grazing antelope, and the occasional dust devil accentuate the boundless panorama as hawks soar gracefully overhead. Buttes jut up from the earth, starkly silhouetted against the bold, blue skies, while sediment-laden rivers continue cutting their long-established paths through the soil. It doesn't take much imagination to envision what this land must have looked like to the in- digenous people who first lived upon it. Al- though much has changed since that time, many aspects of the untamed prairie remain intact. Despite its romantic, innate beauty, life on the open flatlands was unquestionably harsh and unforgiving. To survive on the vast, sage- brush-spotted plains meant Montana's native peoples had to find ways to shield themselves from the unrelenting wind, violent thunder- storms, towering snowdrifts, and the sun's blistering rays. It meant sidestepping rattle- snakes, staying alert for predators and poten- tial enemies, and recognizing the danger of a swiftly flowing river. Perhaps above all, sur- vival on the wide-open prairie hinged on the tribe's ability to find food. And if foraging and hunting were key to en- suring their continued existence, then the bi- son was their lifeblood. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE BISON The North American prairies were once home to as many as 30 million bison, which roamed in herds numbering between 25 and 300. Al- though many people mistakenly use the terms "bison" and "buffalo" interchangeably, they are actually two distinctly different animals. In fact, early explorers inaccurately referred to North American bison as "buffalo" because they somewhat resemble the water buffalo and cape buffalo they had seen in Asia and Africa. Montana's native tribes relied on the boun- ty of bison in nearly every aspect of their dai- ly lives. In addition to depending on them as a primary food source, native peoples also devel- oped ingenious methods that enabled them to use every part of these colossal one-ton giants. Bison brains were used to help prepare hides, their dung fueled campfires, their bones became sewing needles and tools, and their horns were carved and molded into cups, ladles and spoons. Bison tails were used as flyswatters, their skulls were incorporated into prayers and ceremonies, and their tendons were dried into sinew to be used as sewing thread, string, and bowstrings. by HOLLY MATKIN FIRST PEOPLES BUFFALO JUMP STATE PARK

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