The Dakota Indians manufactured variety of goods for their own use and trade purposes including woodwork, skinwork, basketry, bonework, featherwork, shell work, and beadwork. The Dakota Indians were masters of woodworking for shaped objects such as houses, boats, sleds, snowshoes, bows and arrows, spears, digging sticks, pipes, bowls, utensils, and totem poles. The skins and furs the Indians obtained from hunting animals were used to make sturdy objects such as shields, pouches, boxes, and drums. They were also used to make clothing, sheaths, and blankets and were also used in the making of dwellings and boats. Textiles (clothing, blankets, and bags) were made from plant fibers like the inner bark of Cedar trees and wool from Buffalo and other animals. The weaving baskets was an offshoot of the making of textiles. These Indians used the bones, antlers, and horns of animals to make pointed tools like spears, arrows, fishhooks, weaving tools, and knives. Freshwater shells were used to create blades, scrapers, and spoons and in the making of jewelry. Beads, from shells and other hard objects, were a popular trading item and were sewn onto clothing and quivers. Feathers were regarded as a sacred item by the Dakota Indians and were used for ceremonial decorations. As we can see, the Dakota Indians made great use of natural resources and raw materials.
By: Meredith Duda
