Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Spanish & Mexican Policy
How were the Native Americans of Texas affected by the Spanish rule from 1716 to 1821? How did Indian life change when Texas was led by Stephen F. Austin? This article addresses the relations between Indians and white settlers, as well...
PBS
Frontier House: The Extermination of the American Buffalo
The reign of the buffalo across the plains ended in great slaughter by the end of the 19th century. This companion essay to the PBS series, Frontier House, recounts how the decimation of the buffalo occurred, hastened by both white and...
Other
West Virginia University: A Summary of Native American Religions
This is an excellent introduction to Native American religious beliefs and practices. Includes an explanation of the major Native American Religions and their history. Site is extensive and exclusively text-based.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: What Can You Make From a Buffalo?
The northern Plains Indians used every part of the buffalo. In this interactive matching game, students will match objects made by Native Americans from the buffalo.
Ibis Communications
Eye Witness to History: Buffalo Hunt, 1846
Before the European settlers almost wiped out the buffalo, there were huge herds roaming the Plains.The buffalo hunts by Native Americans were essential for the survival of the tribes, and were fine tuned challenges between man and...
Other
Native Languages of the Americas: Native American Headdresses: Facts for Kids
Describes the different types of headdresses worn by Native American groups across North, Central and South America. (Note: some links to larger images no longer work.)
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Whose Land Is This? Conflict Between Native Americans & Settlers [Pdf]
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" designed to provide insights into the causes of the conflict between Native Americans and new settlers pushing west. Young scholars will examine...
Other
Ethnological Museum: Native Americans of the Plains
Part of a larger exhibition about Native Americans, this page gives visitors an up-close look at the Hidatsa and the Mandan, Native Americans of the Plains. Viewable are a decorated a buffalo skin and color etchings of tribal chiefs...
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bullock Museum: Buffalo Soldiers
Immerse in the campfire stories of the people who defined Texas. Read about buffalo soldiers, whether on horseback or on foot, they fought the same enemy every day.
PBS
Pbs the West: A Wound in the Heart
As many as three million buffalo were killed in two years after the coming of the railroad. This site tells the story through quotes from one of the hunters and from Native American writer Scott Momaday and others.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Buffalo Tales: The Near Extermination of the American Bison
This site from the National Humanties Center provides pictures and and offers discussion questions in considering the near-extermination of the American Bison in the late 1800s. Very interesting and informative.
BBC
Bbc: Nature Wildfacts: American Bison
Use this site to learn some amazing facts about the American Bison and their close brush with extinction.
Other
An Introduction to North America's Native People: Plains Culture Area
A wonderful website from Cabrillo College on the Plains Indians can be found here. It gives an in-depth historical overview, profiles of numerous Plains tribes, the significance of the horse, and great information on their culture and...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Eastern Shoshone: Hide Painting of the Sun Dance
Painting on animal hides is a longstanding tradition of the Great Basin and Great Plains people of the United States. Painting, in tandem with oral traditions, functioned to record history.Cotsiogo, a member of the Eastern Shoshone...
Oklahoma State University
Chronicles of Oklahoma: Buffalo Valley: Osage Hunting Ground [Pdf]
Once the Osage were relocated to the Indian Territory in what is today Oklahoma, they had to find food. This article describes one place which was very good for the hunting of buffalo and how the Osage would hunt their prey. In addition,...
Other
Weekly South Dakotan: Buffalo of South Dakota: American Indians and the Buffalo
The bison played a very important role in the lives of Native American tribes. This brief, fact based article is easy to read and most appropriate for the younger student. A timeline shows the main events which affected the bison...
Other
Calgary Board Education: The Blackfoot Story: Robes and Legends
Story robes hold the history of the Blackfoot. Significant events are recorded on buffalo hides using images and hieroglyphics.
Other
Ocb Tracker: Blackfeet Tales
Do you know who the main characters are in the Blackfeet Tales? Use this site to learn features several of the tales.
Text Project
Text Project: Fyi for Kids: Bison [Pdf]
This FYI for Kids (Volume 4, Issue 1) article focuses on Bison. It explains the difference between bison and buffalo, how the Native Americans used them, how they were hunted to near extinction by settlers, and how they are returning to...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Closing the Frontier
A brief look at the conflict between Native Americans in the last half of the 19th century. By the end of the century, Native Americans were relegated to reservation life. See how the struggle was fought and find out the advantages of...
A&E Television
History.com: 10 Things You May Not Know About Sitting Bull
Get the facts about one of the most legendary Native Americans of the 19th century. Sitting Bull was born around 1831 into the Hunkpapa people, a Lakota Sioux tribe that roamed the Great Plains in what is now the Dakotas.
Curated OER
Buffalo Hide
Twelve teacher-tested lesson plans to integrate art from around the world into your classroom. Each activity comes with a list of materials you'll need, easy-to-follow explanations, and examples.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Myths From Around the World: North America
Learn about the North American White Buffalo Calf Woman through this ancient myth. Discover how the Calf Woman went to the Lakota people and how the spirit quality is essential to the North American light.
Other
Trans Mississippi and International Exposition: The Arapaho Tribe
Provides general information on the Arapaho tribe, the buffalo hunters of the Great Plains.