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 24 Bison rawhide was fashioned into a wide variety of use- ful goods, including containers, moccasins, drums, clothing, and tipi coverings. Most tipis required between 12 and 18 hides, which ordinarily held up for about one year. The native tribes' lives were so intertwined with those of these massive, shaggy beasts that they developed a deep understanding of the animals' migratory patterns and hab- its. Native peoples situated themselves in areas where they could work with the land to help aid them in successfully pulling off communal bison hunts. After all, slaying a 2,000-pound animal capable of mov- ing 35 miles per hour without the benefit of horses or mod- ern-day weapons certainly wasn't for the faint of heart. THE INGENUITY OF THE BUFFALO JUMP For thousands of years, brilliant native hunters utilized the land's natural features and their spiritual connection with bison herds to develop highly-effective mass kill sites known today as "buffalo jumps." These areas generally consist of a high, grassy meadow with an abrupt cliff bordering at least one side. After purifying himself in a sweat lodge, a highly-skilled young hunter known as a "runner" would drape himself with the skin of a bison calf and slink off into the herd, mingling with the massive beasts as if he were one of their own. He would then use his extensive understanding of bison behavior to mimic the movement and sounds of a calf in dis- tress, drawing the attention of the herd's leader. Once the concerned herd matriarch began following him, the rest of the group would soon follow suit. As the runner gradually lured the herd toward the cliff, additional runners—often dressed in wolf skins—would close in behind the group. Alexander Henry, a fur trader who witnessed a buffalo drive in 1776, wrote about the native peoples' astounding skills after watching them in action. "The Indians' gestures so closely resembled those of the animals that if I had not AFTER ALL, SLAYING A 2,000-POUND ANIMAL CAPABLE OF MOVING 35 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF HORSES OR MODERN-DAY WEAPONS CERTAINLY WASN'T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. MADISON BUFFALO JUMP MADISON BUFFALO JUMP

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