Buffalo
An old Indian once said all he needed to survive a good life was buffalo, water and tipi poles.
At birth of a baby, it is put in the soft hide of a young buffalo calf. At death the hide becomes a shroud. Hides were scraped and sewn together as tipi covers. They were curtains to keep out the cold winds. Four hides would become a bull boat, which was a round boat of hides stretched on willow branches, with the tail left on and reinforced by a strong stick, which kept the boat from spinning. Rattles and drums were made from scraps and smaller hides. Skin from winter buffalo with the furry hair left on was made into blankets and robes. Tails became fly swatters. Specially tanned hides became soft enough for shirts, dresses, leggings and moccasins. Rawhide which was the untanned hide, cut into strips and braided, was made into a lasso. Rawhide was also used in strips or pieces wet and shaped to secure stones to war clubs or points to arrows.
The buffalo hair was woven into strong rope. Loose, it filled cradle boards or saddle padding. Rolled tightly it became a ball for play.
The bones became fleshing tools to remove fat and meat off the next set of hides. Ribs tied together with rawhide became sleds. Small bones became knives.
Buffalo meat was the main Plains Indian's food. The first meat was roasted and eaten fresh, the rest was dried for jerky or pemmican. (Meat pounded into strips with berries and fat.) Pemmican was the mainstay of the hunter or traveler on a long journey and what kept the Indians from starving during a lean winter hunt.

Is it any wonder the buffalo was revered by the Indians??