The Cheyenne Indians were a tribe of Great Plains American Indians who lived in what is
now Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
Hunting was extremely important to these people as it provided them with food and
materials for clothing, tools, weapons, and their homes. Men and women typically had one or two kids and lived in earthen lodges and later in teepees where they would
gather as
a family unit. Read on to find out more about the interesting lives of this Native
American tribe, rich in history and culture. Click here for a great selection of Cheyenne Indian books on AMAZON.
Cheyenne Indian General Facts
Because of their forced relocation by the U.S. government, the Cheyenne consist of two tribes, the Southern Cheyenne and the Northern Cheyenne.
Because hunting was so important to the Cheyenne, they were able to pack up all of their belongings and disassemble their teepees in a matter of minutes in order
to follow a buffalo herd.
Indigenous to the Great Plains, the Cheyenne often used what is called Plains Sign Language to communicate with other local tribes. To communicate with those in
their tribe, the Algonquin language was spoken. Today most tribal members speak English.
Roman Nose was one of the most idolized warriors of all of the Plains Indians during the 1860s when the Plains Indian War took place. He was from the Northern
Cheyenne tribe and often mistaken for a chief although he never was one. His size, stature and air of invincibleness made him stand out even among chiefs.
Like other Indian tribes, the Cheyenne were given reservations by the U.S. government when their land was invaded during the California Gold Rush that began in the
1840s.
Cheyenne Indian Tribal Facts
Cheyenne Dog Soldiers were a military driven band of Cheyenne warrior Indians who were known to fight to the death to protect their people. One had to perform
incredible acts of bravery to join this honorable group.
The Cheyenne were friendly with the Lakota (Sioux) and had a long time friendship with the Arapaho, which they even shared territory with.
Beading was the major form of jewelry for the Cheyenne. Because they had to be able to pack up their belongings quickly, they needed an art form that was not
breakable or cumbersome.
Once horses were introduced to what was originally a farming society, the Cheyenne were able to better hunt buffalo. Their
main food source changed from vegetables to buffalo meat. They also ate fruits, nuts, berries and fish.
The Cheyenne were very religious and ceremonial people. They performed an elaborate
sundance, smoked peace pipes, built houses specifically for ceremonies and recognized
both special hats and arrows as being sacred.
The practice of counting coup was used by the Cheyenne Indians. This involved acts of bravery and the winning of prestige
against an enemy. The greatest honor came from touching the enemy then getting away unharmed. The enemy could be touched with
a hand, stick, or some other object. Counting coup was practiced by many Plains Indian tribes.
From an early age, Cheyenne kids learned their respective roles from their
parents, although both had time for play as well. Girls would learn how to cook, clean
and take care of the home, including taking the teepees apart to relocate. Boys would
learn the skills needed for feeding a family, including hunting and fishing as well as
how to fight in battle.
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