The Original Plains Indians

The original Plains Indians are so interesting that we have created a factional musical set in the period before the white man arrived in North America.

In those days, the native American Indian tribes roamed the Great North America Plains. There were several tribes, such as the Cheyenne, Comanche, Plains Apache, and several more.

The Lakota Indians

Today we are talking about the Lakota, from whose descendants we checked the facts.

How did they live?

They hunted the American Bison, which gave them most of what they needed, food, cups, decorations, crafting tools, knives, and even clothing. They would follow the seasonal grazing and migration of the Bison. For this reason, they lived in “Tipis” as they were easily disassembled allowing them to follow the Bison with ease.

Where did they roam?

The Lakota moved aimlessly around the middle of the North American plains, allowing them, by the mid-19th century, to become the dominant plains tribe. They had relatively small horse herds, but as they occupied the heart of prime bison lands, they also controlled a highly profitable trade in furs.  They sold these to French and American traders for goods, such as guns, which allowed the Lakota to become the most powerful of the Plains tribes.

A typical year for the Lakota

It started with a communal buffalo hunt in spring, then during June and July they would gather in large encampments, where they attended ceremonies such as the Sun Dance.

In the fall, they split into small bands to go hunting to prepare for the long winter. It was also the time when Lakota warriors took part in raids.  Later, when the winter snow arrived the Lakota settled in their winter camps, where they saw the winter through with a series of ceremonies and dances.

The Musical – The Dream Catcher

Your class can understand, enjoy and even imagine they are in the world of the Lakota Indians by simply clicking on The Dream Catcher – The Plains Indians of North America and downloading the musical. It has been written so that no actor,whatever age, has to learn more than 5 lines.  If your parents can’t get there to watch live, you can video the musical and send it to them, giving your children the great excitement of making the video, while at the same time learning about the Plains Indians by default.

Let’s make history fun!

10 questions to discuss:

1. What role did the American Bison play in the lives of the Lakota people?
2. Can you describe the significance of the Tipi in Lakota culture and daily life?
3. How did the seasonal migration of the Bison impact the lifestyle and movement of the Lakota tribe?
4. What were some of the main items the Lakota obtained from the American Bison?
5. How did the Lakota use their trading of furs with French and American traders to their advantage?
6. What was the significance of the communal buffalo hunt for the Lakota tribe?
7. Can you elaborate on the ceremonies and rituals involved in the Sun Dance, a significant event for the Lakota people?
8. What activities did the Lakota engage in during the summer months when they gathered in large encampments?
9. Why did the Lakota split into smaller bands during the fall, and what was their purpose?
10. Could you explain the significance of the winter camps and the ceremonies and dances held during the winter months for the Lakota tribe?

For more on the Lakota tribe click on: