The Reintroduction of the Horse to the Northern Great Plains and its Influence on Indigenous Lifeways

The presence of horses in archaeological sites across North America is often noted research as an indicator European contact. Fewer studies, however, have considered how Indigenous peoples incorporated intrinsic aspect their lives. Research that considers peoples’ relationships with typically focuses on Southern Plains groups and does not feature Northern communities a central aspect. Looking specifically at one Great people, this paper analyzes Blackfoot lifeways were altered result the protohistoric (seventeenth to eighteenth century) reintroduction horse. lives transformed relationship land evolved, economic systems reformed, trade, religion, war became centered around Almost all people would felt effects horse’s introduction, however necessarily equally these changes caused shift hierarchy. These impacts are evidenced by historical accounts, oral histories, record. Examining formed demonstrates significant influence animals can over people’s Horses’ introduction proved cause ways many conducted lives, such through establishment nomadic pastoralism trade routes This additionally calls for further into continued between