Economy

Vanishing Pony Tracks

The economy in the Cheyenne culture is solely based on the trade and barter system.  The Cheyennes have a nomadic lifestyle, which makes it difficult to have permanent means for the items and food that they need to provide for themselves.  Their economic status is directly related to what they have to trade to others, and how many interactions with others outside of the tribe to trade.

PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS

The Cheyenne were not always nomadic.  They began as a permanent settlement/horticulturist tribe with a main focus on farming and agriculture.  Much of their diets were full of corn, beans, squash, fruit and plants³⁵. The food that they did not grow themselves, they hunted. The hunt consisted mostly of small game.  This time period of permanent settlement also honed the skills necessary for the Cheyenne to become successful with their nomadic lifestyle later.  They were skilled at making such pottery, utensils, and weapons.  They were also skilled in leatherworking, woodworking, quill working, feather working, and stone carving, which made their pieces more desirable for trade⁷. 

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HORSE

The main big change for permanent settlement to nomadic was the introduction of horses by the Spanish.  Some Cheyenne tribes traded their beautiful pottery, tools, and knowledge of the land for these horses⁴¹.  They became one of the most skilled horse riders in the region.  Many feared the abilities of a skilled Cheyenne horseman.  Other tribes used their skilled warriors and hunters to steal horses from the Spanish, or catch wild horses⁴¹.  The Cheyenne became so good at obtaining horses through stealing that they were eventually labeled horse stealers⁴⁶.  Horse stealing became so much of common place that it was not so much frowned upon to steal a horse, but they regarded it as prestigious to be so courageous and skillful to steal a horse from either the Europeans or other tribes⁴¹.  Cheyennes did not stop their stealing skills to just horses. They used their horses to ride up along trains and wagons and steal the contents for further use or trade for better items. This mostly came about when the European settlers started pushing the Cheyenne out of their land and stealing their food sources.  The frustration and starvation factors became the driving force for the Cheyenne men to feed and provide for their families⁴⁰.

NOMATIC LIFESTYLE

Hammer, Bag, and Two Skin: 
Dressing Tools

They used the horse to change their whole lifestyle.  With the new mobility, tribes began to uproot themselves to find more food and land.  They followed the herd of buffalo.  Buffalo were more accessible with horses, rather than the previous method of sneaking up on a lone buffalo.  Hunters could ride up next to a buffalo, and with the help of multiple hunters, to take it down⁴¹.  The higher success rate of buffalo hunting resulted in higher yield of buffalo meat and byproducts.  The hides of the buffalo were used to make clothing, blankets, and teepees.  The bones were used to make knives, sewing needles, and other various tools and utensils. 

The horns were used to make spoons, cups, and gunpowder flasks⁴⁰.  The entrails were used for various bags, from cooking to carrying objects to recreational balls for the children to play with.  All of these byproducts and extra meat were used as bartering tools for the Cheyenne to receive the goods they now could not regularly get obtain.  They traded with other tribes for corn, tobacco, guns, and other products that came from the European settlers⁴⁰.  One big discovery to the Cheyennes was the introduction of alcohol.  The Europeans traded whiskey to the Cheyenne.  Many Europeans noticed the high desire for whiskey by the Cheyenne and began to take advantage of their demand by increase what they were willing to trade for the same amount of whiskey.