Ways of the Cheyenne
The Northern Cheyenne captives of Dodge City, survivors of the Fort Robinson Breakout, and exodus from the Darlington Reservation knew themselves as Tsistsistas, meaning "The Called Out People." They spoke an Algonquian tongue closely related to Blackfoot, Arapaho, and A'aninin. According to Lakota and Dakota accounts, French explorers had met this tribe in the forested country of the upper Mississippi Valley by 1650.' In 1680, the explorer LaSalle referred to "Shahiyela," who lived at the headwaters of the Mississippi, and they came to be called "Cheyennes" by other tribal groups. They relocated from the Great Lakes area to agricultural settlements in present-day southwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. In the last decades of the eighteenth century, they continued their westward moves and reached the plains. Because of these gradual movements west, they evaded warfare with the encroaching settlers from Europe.
In the late 1700s, the Cheyennes acquired horses and occupied camps in the Black Hills of the South Dakota region. They diverted from farming to nomadic hunting, and by the nineteenth century, they followed buffalo herds as their primary food source. In the 1830s, the tribe split into two groups: the Northerners, who occupied the Black Hills, the Tongue River, and the Powder River region in present-day Montana and Wyoming. The Southerners settled grasslands of present-day western Kansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Colorado.
The Southern Plains of the 19th century was a broad expanse of level and almost treeless, semiarid terrain covered by thick prairie grass. The Plains supported abundant wildlife, including antelope, bison, and deer. The bison, or American buffalo, was the most significant of all the Plains animals. The buffalo was essential to the Plains Indian’s way of life. It yielded meat for food, hides for clothing and shelter, and bones for utensils and tools. Even dried buffalo droppings, “buffalo chips,” provided a burnable fuel.
The Comanche, Kiowa, and Kiowa-Apache had migrated into the Southern Plains region in the early 18th century. The Cheyenne and Arapahos were new to the area, having more recently arrived during the 1830s. White emigrants began moving into the region in the 1850s. Ironically, the Southern Plains fight was not a contest between indigenous Native Americans against the white invaders but more of a conflict between two vastly different emigrant cultures.
In the late 1700s, the Cheyennes acquired horses and occupied camps in the Black Hills of the South Dakota region. They diverted from farming to nomadic hunting, and by the nineteenth century, they followed buffalo herds as their primary food source. In the 1830s, the tribe split into two groups: the Northerners, who occupied the Black Hills, the Tongue River, and the Powder River region in present-day Montana and Wyoming. The Southerners settled grasslands of present-day western Kansas, Oklahoma, and eastern Colorado.
The Southern Plains of the 19th century was a broad expanse of level and almost treeless, semiarid terrain covered by thick prairie grass. The Plains supported abundant wildlife, including antelope, bison, and deer. The bison, or American buffalo, was the most significant of all the Plains animals. The buffalo was essential to the Plains Indian’s way of life. It yielded meat for food, hides for clothing and shelter, and bones for utensils and tools. Even dried buffalo droppings, “buffalo chips,” provided a burnable fuel.
The Comanche, Kiowa, and Kiowa-Apache had migrated into the Southern Plains region in the early 18th century. The Cheyenne and Arapahos were new to the area, having more recently arrived during the 1830s. White emigrants began moving into the region in the 1850s. Ironically, the Southern Plains fight was not a contest between indigenous Native Americans against the white invaders but more of a conflict between two vastly different emigrant cultures.
Cheyenne Chronicles: A Deeper Dive into the Bravery, Culture, and Conflicts of a Noble People
This podcast episode delves into the captivating culture of the Cheyenne people. They lived on the southern plains of America during the 19th century, long before the encroachment of the white man. The Cheyenne culture is a remarkable testament to a people's deep connection with their environment, their unyielding determination to preserve their way of life, and their extraordinary acts of bravery in the face of adversity.
The Cheyenne's relationship with the buffalo was fundamental to their way of life. The buffalo, or the American bison, provided the Cheyenne people with meat for food, hides for clothing and shelter, and bones for utensils and tools. Such was their reliance on these creatures that the buffalo even influenced their nomadic lifestyle, causing them to migrate following the buffalo herds. |
|
But life on the plains was not without conflict. The arrival of white immigrants in the 1850s brought about significant challenges for the Cheyenne people. Determined to maintain control of their land and preserve their way of life, the Cheyenne people faced an equally determined adversary. This resulted in unyielding conflict between the two cultures, ultimately shaping the course of American history.
The Cheyenne people's social structure was deeply democratic, with the family serving as the primary social unit. Tribal organization was based on a network of families and kindred groups, with each band electing four chiefs who were considered the wisest. These chiefs, despite their power, rarely opposed public opinion, demonstrating the Cheyenne's deep respect for individual freedoms.
This episode also explores the fascinating aspects of Cheyenne honor and bravery, particularly the ritual of touching the enemy. In Cheyenne culture, touching the enemy was seen as the highest form of bravery, surpassing even killing or scalping an enemy. This act was seen as a sign of great respect, and a warrior who could touch a fallen enemy was entitled to the highest credit.
The Cheyenne people's social structure was deeply democratic, with the family serving as the primary social unit. Tribal organization was based on a network of families and kindred groups, with each band electing four chiefs who were considered the wisest. These chiefs, despite their power, rarely opposed public opinion, demonstrating the Cheyenne's deep respect for individual freedoms.
This episode also explores the fascinating aspects of Cheyenne honor and bravery, particularly the ritual of touching the enemy. In Cheyenne culture, touching the enemy was seen as the highest form of bravery, surpassing even killing or scalping an enemy. This act was seen as a sign of great respect, and a warrior who could touch a fallen enemy was entitled to the highest credit.
The Cheyenne people also had a deep reverence for their land and its resources. They lived in a cycle, joining together in late spring or early summer for religious ceremonies and a communal buffalo hunt. After the hunt, the bands would scatter for the winter, only to regroup again in the spring. This cyclical lifestyle was in harmony with the environment, demonstrating the Cheyenne's profound respect for the earth.
The podcast concludes by discussing the Cheyenne's clashes with the white man and their unyielding spirit in the face of adversity. Despite the immense challenges they faced, the Cheyenne people remained determined to maintain their way of life and control of their land. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit and offers timeless lessons in humility, courage, and honor.
Overall, this episode provides an eye-opening exploration of the Cheyenne culture, shedding light on a noble people whose legacy continues to inspire and fascinate. It is a compelling narrative that offers a unique insight into the Cheyenne way of life, their rituals, and their indomitable spirit in the face of adversity. The Cheyenne Chronicles are a must-listen for anyone interested in American history, Native American culture, and the profound lessons we can learn from our past.
The podcast concludes by discussing the Cheyenne's clashes with the white man and their unyielding spirit in the face of adversity. Despite the immense challenges they faced, the Cheyenne people remained determined to maintain their way of life and control of their land. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring strength of the human spirit and offers timeless lessons in humility, courage, and honor.
Overall, this episode provides an eye-opening exploration of the Cheyenne culture, shedding light on a noble people whose legacy continues to inspire and fascinate. It is a compelling narrative that offers a unique insight into the Cheyenne way of life, their rituals, and their indomitable spirit in the face of adversity. The Cheyenne Chronicles are a must-listen for anyone interested in American history, Native American culture, and the profound lessons we can learn from our past.