Daily Life - Part II

Women of the buffalo-hunting tribes made full use of animals hunted. They skinned and scraped a hide while it was still warm, then stripped the meat and set it out to dry. A proficient woman could process three buffalo a day totaling 300 pounds of dried meat and pemmican.

A Crow woman decorates an animal hide. The tanning process that women performed could take from three to 10 days, depending on the use of the hide.

Native American women are well-known for their weavings, baskets and pottery arts. Originally these items were simple tools of everyday life, but today are appreciated as the art and artifacts of an ancient culture.

Pottery was used for storing food, holding water and cooking. Today, pottery is also an artistic craft purchased by tourists and collectors.

Dancing was important to Native Americans. Some dances were purely social, others were enactments of tribal rituals and Indian spirituality. On the left, a Pueblo woman is buffalo dancing, "calling" the buffalo before the hunt begins. In the center and on the right, Pueblo women dance to increase the chance of a bountiful corn crop.

Visiting was a form of relaxation and entertainment. These smiling Navajo women are enjoying their outing.