Important Facts About The Amazing Arapahoe Nation

By Alta Alexander


Arapahoes are known as members of the Native American people. They formerly inhabit eastern Colorado and southeast Wyoming. Traditional Arapahoe life was always based in hunting, particularly buffaloes. These people are close allies of the Cheyenne and are loosely aligned with Dakota and Lakota.

Arapahoes still belong to be US citizens. Arapahoe Nation is grouped into two tribes which are those who came from the Northern and the Southern part. These people have made their own laws, services, plan of action and government. They are all obliged to only do what is right particularly to the ones reflecting to their laws. But even if they have made their laws, following of the American law must be done as they are part of the nation.

Arapahoe children are not distant from the city kids. They do things that are done by the city children. Children always love to play but what makes Arapahoe kids contrasting from the city ones is they spend more of their time working inside their homes by following orders and commands from their parents than to play outside. These children are often caught hunting and fishing with their fathers as they love to do it.

Arapahoe men and women also do the same things as city people. They have their own roles which they follow. Women are always in charge inside the house. They do household chores and is often helped by their children. But what makes these women appear more stronger than city ladies is they are the ones who build their homes. They drag large and sturdy posts to build a home which is basically duties of a man in the city.

Even if Arapahoe men are not found inside their homes most of the time, yet what they are doing is for the lives of their families. Men need to go on hunting and look for food. They are considered as warriors and hunters. They are accountable for supplying food for their families. They must also defend their families or those who needs help from tragedies and other hazardous situations.

Arapahoe houses truly looks simple. They have a tent look alike home. It is built more with only posts and animal skin cloth to protect from the harsh environment. They call their homes tipis. Tipis are built in a simple way, like they need it to place and break easily, so it will be easy for them to transfer from a single place to another. These people are better known to be wanderers which is why they prefer tipis more.

Arapahoe clothing looks tribal. They do not wear modern tees, jeans or sneakers. Women wore split skirts and buckskin dresses. Men wore leggings and breech cloth. Traditional shirts are designed with beads, rows of elk teeth, or porcupine quills. For their shoes, they do not wear sneakers but they call their footwear moccasins.

Arapahoes are wholesome nomads. They love to travel particularly in search of food and living. They use travois for transportation. Travois is a sled being pulled by dogs. But when horses are introduced to them, traveling has become a lot lighter and faster. Arapahoes are even known to be amazing horse riders and they can even journey at lengthy distances even if they only have their horses with them.

Arapahoes are truly rich in history. The people are even known to be extraordinary artists as they are fully furnished with embroidery and bead work. Each of the story made by their elders are still told until today particularly to the little ones. Their tales are all full of fantasies and legends.




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