The Plateau Indians

Plateau Indians

The Plateau Indians lived in teepees and pit houses. The pit houses were made out of fine timber wood. Villagers would ask neighbors to help make a pit house because it would take more than one or two people to build this pit house. Twenty or more villagers would help complete a pit house. Most pit houses would be completed in a day. Women began to the pit house by digging out dirt, with digging tools such as, scrapers and sharp flat blades. They were named pit houses because the houses were dug into the ground making a pit.

Plateau Indians didn’t really have time to make art. Their art was more for survival than decoration such as mats that were used for protection from wind and rain and their baskets that were used for gathering camas bulbs. Cradle Boards more decorative than usual every day decorations. They were meant to be artistic and beautiful.

The Plateau Indians believed in a creator. This creator was known as old chief, the ancient one, or father mystery. Young ones were suppose to go on a journey to find their guardian spirit (vision quest). The children would find their guardian spirit by going off alone and fasting. During this time they sang and prayed