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Show B... 1.. 3 Buffalo ( Bison bison, Bovidae): The name for females is " cooch" and males tah 06' ch" ( Wardle 1969: 18) or " kutc" and " taotc" ( Stewart 1942: 352), respectively. Reported Locations: In the pre- reservation period, buffalo were a major source of meat and hides especially for the eastern Utes. Buffalo herds were reported in early historic sources throughout the grasslands and meadows of the Colorado Rockies and in the Uinta Basin. After the introduction of horses, mounted Utes hunted buffalo not only on ranges within their own intermountain territory but also procured them in locales north of the Uintas and east of the Rockies ( Sloane 1950: 319; Stewart 1966: 49; Janetski 1983: 58; Callaway, et al. 1986: 337- 8). Buffalo became extinct in the Uinta Basin area in the 1830' s ( Smith 1974a: 53). Today, no herds exist in this area, although private, non- Indian owners in the Vernal and Altamont areas have been known to raise them for the meat and hide ( 4.4). According to one consultant, a small herd of bison was kept by the Ute Tribe on grounds near Bottle Hollow but problems with the care of the animals frustrated this endeavor ( 4.4). This consultant also thought it might be a good idea for the tribe to procure a herd but to maintain them in cooler areas of the reservation with better forage and shade. Ute Uses and Methods of Procurement: Bison were ambushed on foot near springs or salt licks and shot with arrows from pits or sagebrush disguises ( Stewart 1942: 241; Janetski 1983: 63- 4). The Moache and Weeminuche also drove buffalo over a precipice ( Stewart 1942: 241). Both Smith ( 1974a: 54) and Stewart ( 1942: 241) indicate that bison were sometimes hunted by groups of men. Pettit ( 1990: 38) reports that bison were also sought individually. According to Smith ( 1974a: 46, 49) the meat of the buffalo and the grease from its boiled bones were eaten ( see also, Fowler 1986: 80). The sinew was used to sew hides for tipis together ( Smith 1974a: 38). The hide was used similarly to the deer and elk hides, but was also used to make buffalo shields, and cover tipis, sweat lodges, and sometimes menstrual huts ( Lowie 1924: 220; Smith 1974a: 38, 43, 45, 113). The buffalo robe was also used for bedding, clothing, and wrapping babies ( Smith 1974a: 37, 77, 101). The hair was woven into cordage and the hackamore for a horse ( Smith 1974a: 115, 118). The tail was used to decorate the tipi ( Smith 1974a: 39). The neckbone of the buffalo was used as a bullroarer ( Smith 1974a: 164). Use by Neighboring Populations in the Great Basin: Fowler ( 1986: 80) indicated that buffalo were important only to populations who lived on the eastern peripheries of the Great Basin proper. B. 1.4 Moose ( Alces alces, Cervidae): The Northern Ute word is / paiyuki/ ( Smith 1974a: 269). 80 |
