Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Edited with Notes and Biographical SketchDenig, Edwin Thompson
History
Indian Tribes of the Upper Missouri: Edited with Notes and Biographical Sketch
Denig, Edwin Thompson
Assiniboine Indians; Indians of North America -- Missouri River Valley
Upon the whole the domestic arrangement is benefited by having the
labor divided, which would be too much for one woman. The Indians,
mostly, treat their wives well, but these women require a hard ruler
and sometimes they are obliged to strike severely. Jealousies among the
women of the same lodge are nothing and do not affect the actions of
the man further than to stop the disturbance. But jealousy on the part
of the man toward some one of his women supposed to be unfaithful are
accompanied by terrible punishments, not infrequently by death. Among
the Blackfeet the noses of the women are cut off for this offense;
others stab, strike, or kill as it happens. Women are not interfered
with by the men in their management of household affairs. Such
interference would excite too much ridicule for their pride.
Are the labors of husband and wife equally divided? The occupations of
the man are as follows: Setting aside that of war which he occasionally
follows after having a family, though not often, he is obliged to keep
the family in meat and skins, and this occupies about one-third of
his time. He makes his own bows and arrows, snowshoes, powder horns,
and all implements of war and the chase, not purchased. He furnishes
horses, either by war, bargains, or other means; collects, waters,
and guards his horses; makes traps for wolves and foxes and kills and
skins them; attends councils, feasts, and ceremonies; protects his
family from insult and injury, and risks his life for them in hunting
in different ways; all of which should be taken into consideration as
forming a portion of his time and labor.
Sometimes his women will accompany him to the hunt and aid in skinning
and butchering the animal, but this is only when the buffalo are near
the camp. She never participates in his labors on other occasions. The
usual occupations of the women are, to prepare the skins and dress
them, which is a tedious and laborious operation; to cut up the meat
in thin slices and dry it; to make all the clothing for the family,
make lodges, cook, take care of their children and dogs, bring wood
and water, pack and unpack animals, erect the tents, strike them,
arrange the interior, carry burdens in traveling, render grease, pound
meat, work at garnishing with beads and porcupine quills, make dogs
travailles, saddle and unsaddle the master’s horse, etc. In nations
where canoes are used, the men make the frame and the women sew and
stitch over it the bark or skin. Men make the paddles, pans, bowls,
cradles, and pipes. This is among the Cree and Chippewa. With those who
plant, the labor of hoeing, planting, gathering, drying, and shelling
the corn is all done by the women and children; but with these less
hunting is done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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