In the Crow tribe, the women are responsible for building and maintaining the home
The Crow Native American tribe traditionally lived in the Yellowstone River valley, but today their home is a reservation in Montana. In an effort to preserve their culture, the Crow tribe uses tools found mostly in nature to perform basic functions that include housework, cooking, hunting and building. These tools have been and continue to be a staple for the Crow people.
Hunting
The Crow tribe lived on the land and from the land, requiring them to make the tools necessary for survival from items found easily in the environment. Bows and arrows were common tools used to hunt food, as well as to protect the tribe from outsiders. Other tools commonly used to hunt included spears that could easily puncture the hide of large animals like bison or deer from a close distance. Knives were made from stones and the bones of animals, sharpened with rocks until they formed pointed tips. Pieces of wood were used to create the handle of the knife, while deerskin was used to make the knife sheath.
Protection
Many of the tools used to hunt food were also used as a means of protecting the tribe. Bows and arrows were powerful tools used against enemies or invaders. War clubs were useful for up-close battle or protection. With one strike from a gun stock war club, Crow warriors could land a blunt swing to the head, or a pointed strike could be buried in the skin of an enemy. Shields were also common protection tools, allowing the Crow to save themselves from bows, arrows and other pointed instruments aimed at them.
Household Tools
In the culture of the Crow tribe, women run every aspect of the home. The women are responsible for building and setting up the home, which used to be teepees. Tools used to build Crow homes include long wooden poles from trees and animal hides from bison served as the roof and walls of the home. Rocks were often used as a pounding tool for building homes and making medical and food products. Inside the home, wood was used as a tool to provide heat for the family. Many Crow teepees were large enough to keep a fire going during nighttime and winters to stay warm.
Dress
The Crow people use the land to fulfill the many needs of the tribe. Buffalo horns were often used along with wool and animal hides to make headgear. Feathers and animal hides were also used for Crow dress, rather than waste any portion of an animal killed for food or lodging. Women of the Crow Nation wear dresses made of deerskin. Both men and women wore necklaces made from bear claws, while women often wore long earrings made from abalone shells. Awls were made from horns or animal bones and wood to set holes in leather items including clothing, teepees and headdresses.
Travel
When the Crow tribe needed to travel prior to the arrival of the Europeans, they relied on dogs and made use of the travois. Created using wood and animal hides, the travois is similar to a sled with a dog pulling the cargo. Crow Indians used the travois to move homes from one location to another as needed to hunt. The travois was a handy tool for Crow hunters and gatherers who used the device to transport firewood or hunted animals. When the tribe needed to move, they used the travois to carry children and elders who couldn't take the entire journey by foot.
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