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The Useful Bison By Kunsi Ska

The "buffalo" were so numerous in the early days that the herds covered the prairie as they migrated. Whites reported there were thousands in a herd as far as the eye could see. The prairie could be black with them for days. But, of course, once the food supply was gone it was necessary for them to move on. An "Indian" could detect the trembling of the ground from 20 miles away by putting his ear to the ground. The herd was constantly moving forward. Today's natural, organic, nonhormone-injecting farmer uses a similar method called pasture rotation. It keeps the animals healthy and also helps control parasites. (The difference between the more natural and "feed lot" raising of cattle.) As you probably already know, the indigenous people used every part of the bison. The horns for spoons/ladles, hides for tipis, mattresses, robes, etc. Bones were cracked for the marrow. Hooves even tails were all used right down to the inner parts. Having no trees to speak of on the prairies, the "buffalo chips" were used for fuel. Lacking most sources of diaper materials on the prairie, the same "chips" were rock pounded and placed in the proper place in the baby carrier. Absolutely safe and sanitary! Remember biology class? The sun kills bacteria. Parasites or eggs the sun didn't kill would have been killed by freezing over the winter. And it's biodegradable! The baby carriers were easily cleaned. No washers and dryers necessary. A quick dip for baby in the nearest stream or pond. Whites mention how the native people bathed more often than the white people, usually daily, even through the ice if they could get to water. (No bathtub ring.) While on the subject of diapers, other materials were available when in a lake or woodland area: cattail fluff, lots of it (in winter) and cottonwood seeds (in spring). Cottonwood trees were plentiful and the seeds drifted like snow. Waterfowl down could be used in season as well. Of course, where there are trees there is moss to be had on the ground, which in Minnesota was 60% forested at one time. (During one of my talks, a lady suggested using milkweed fluff. I've never heard of it. I know it's not absorbent since that is why it was used to stuff life jackets during the war. I assume it to be an unlikely diaper material. If anyone has any further information on biodegradable indigenous diaper materials, please contact me.)

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