NORTHERN CHEYENNE IN WYOMING

THE CHEYENNE NAME MEANS RELATIVES OF THE CREE. THEIR LANGUAGE IS CALLED TSITSISTAS OR 'THE PEOPLE'. THESE FOLKS LIVE IN FIVE STATES IN THE PLAINS. IN THE 1800'S THE GOVERNMENT FORCED THEM TO RELOCATE TO THE CHEYENNE, BUT SOME OF THEM ESCAPED. TODAY THEY LIVE IN OKLAHOMA AND MONTANA. BOTH OF THE TRIBES HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.

IN THE PAST THEY WERE LEAD BY 44 CHIEFS, FOUR FROM EACH BAND. THEY REALLY VALUE HARMONY. THEIR ELDERS SPEAK A MUSICAL LANGUAGE. THEIR CHILDREN HELP THEIR PARENTS AND THE BOYS GO HUNTING AND FISHING. THE GIRLS HAD CHORES AS WELL. THEY ALSO PLAYED MANY SIMPLE GAMES. THE WOMEN BUILT THE HOUSE OF POSTS MEN WERE HUNTERS AND WARRIORS. PREVIOUSLY THEY LIVED IN WIGWAMS AND TIPIS OF BUFFALO. THEY MOVED FREQUENTLY. THE WOMEN MADE LEATHER CLOTHING FOR BOTH SEXES. THEIR LEADERS ORIGINALLY WORE TALL FEATHER HEADDRESSES. THEY BUILT RAFTS FOR RIVER TRAVEL BUT USED DOGS TO HELP THEM CARRY THEIR BELONGINGS.

THEY WERE A FARMING PEOPLE - WHO PLANTED CORN, BEANS, AND SQUASH. THE MEN HUNTED. THEY COLLECTED SEEDS, BERRIES AND TRADED FOOD WITH TRIBES. THEY EXCELLED IN QUILL EMBROIDERY, BEAD WORK, PIPESTONE CARVING AND POTTERY. THEY LOVED STORYTELLING AS WELL. THEY HAD SWEAT LODGES.

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