~ Cheyenne Indian Facts ~

How do you pronounce the word "Cheyenne"? What does it mean? It's pronounced "Shy-ANN," and it was the Sioux name for the tribe. It may have been a diminutive form of the Sioux name for the related Cree people. In their own language, the Cheyenne call themselves Tsitsistas, "the people."

Where do the Cheyennes live? The Cheyennes are original residents of Minnesota, though their migrations ranged west into the Dakotas and south into Wyoming, Colorado, and even as far as Kansas. The US government forcibly relocated them to Oklahoma during the late 1800's, although some escaped and fled north into Montana. Today the Cheyennes live in two tribes, one in Oklahoma and the other in Montana.

How is the Cheyenne Indian nation organized? The Cheyenne nation has been split in half by American relocation policies. The Northern Cheyenne have one tribe in Montana, and the Southern Cheyenne share another tribe with their allies the Southern Arapaho in Oklahoma. Like most Native American tribes in the United States, the Cheyenne tribes are autonomous. This means that each of them has its own government, laws, police, and other services, just like a small country. However, only the Northern Cheyenne have their own reservation (land which belongs to them and is legally under their control). The Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho live on allotments or in Western Oklahoma towns. In the past, the Cheyenne were led by a council of 44 chiefs, four from each band. The Cheyennes really valued harmony, so every council member had to agree on a decision before action could be taken (this is called consensus). Today, Cheyenne council members are popularly elected... but they still operate on consensus principles.

What language do the Cheyennes speak? Most Cheyenne people speak English today, but some of them, especially older people, also speak their native Cheyenne language. Cheyenne is a musical language that has complicated verbs with many parts. You can hear the Cheyenne names for various animals on this page and see a glossary of Cheyenne words here. . Most Cheyenne words are very long and have vowels that are difficult for English speakers to pronounce, but one easy word that you might like to learn is "Epeva'e" (pronounced similar to "eh-peh-va,") which means "It is good!"

How do Cheyenne Indian children live, and what did they do in the past? They do the same things any children do--play with each other, go to school and help around the house. Many Cheyenne children like to go hunting and fishing with their fathers. In the past, Indian children had more chores and less time to play in their daily lives, just like early colonists' children. But they did have toys and games to play. Here is a picture of a hoop game popular among the Cheyennes. Lacrosse was also a popular sport among teenagers. As for babies, a Cheyenne mother traditionally carried a young child in a cradleboard on her backs--a custom which many American parents have adopted now.

What were Cheyenne homes like in the past? Originally the Cheyennes lived in permanent villages of earthen lodges and dome-shaped wigwams, but as they adopted a more migratory life-style, they began to use the conical buffalo-hide houses called tipis (or teepees) for shelter. Since they moved so frequently to follow the buffalo herds, a tipi had to be carefully designed to set up and break down quickly, like a modern tent. An entire Cheyenne village could be packed up and ready to move on within an hour. Today, Native Americans only put up a tepee for fun or to connect with their heritage. Most Cheyennes live in modern houses and apartment buildings, just like you.

What was Cheyenne clothing like? Did they wear feather headdresses and face paint? Yes--Cheyenne leaders originally wore tall feather headdresses like the Blackfeet used, but they soon adopted the impressive warbonnets of their neighbors the Sioux. Men wore their hair in braids with a topknot or pompadour, and women wore their hair either loose or braided. Both genders painted their faces for special occasions. They used different patterns for war paint, religious ceremonies, and festive decoration. Cheyenne women wore long deerskin dresses and the men wore breechcloths with leather pant legs tied on. Later, men adopted the Plains war shirt worn by other Indians of this region. A lady's dress or a man's war shirt was fringed and often decorated with porcupine quills, shells, and elk teeth. Men wore moccasins and women wore high fringed boots. Later, Cheyenne people adapted some European costume such as cloth dresses and vests, which they decorated with quillwork, beading, and other native adornment. Here is a link to our page on Indian clothing in general, where you can find more photos and links about these traditional clothing styles. Today, some Cheyenne people still have moccasins or a beaded dress, but they wear modern clothes like jeans instead of breechcloths... and they only wear their traditional regalia on special occasions like a wedding or a dance.

What was Cheyenne transportation like in the days before cars? Did they paddle canoes? No--the Cheyenne weren't coastal people, and when they traveled by river, they usually built rafts. Originally the Cheyennes would use dogs pulling travois (a kind of drag sled) to help them carry their belongings. Once Europeans introduced horses to North America, the Cheyennes found that they could travel quicker and further with the help of the new animals. Newly able to keep up with the buffalo herds, the Cheyennes became a primarily migratory people.

What was Cheyenne food like in the days before supermarkets? The Cheyennes were originally farming people, with the women harvesting corn, squash, and beans and the men fishing and hunting deer and, when it was possible, buffalo. As horses entered their culture the Cheyenne lifestyle, like other Plains Indian tribes, became more and more dependent on the buffalo for sustenance, following the migrating herds across the plains rather than staying put to raise crops. Unlike in most Plains tribes, women as well as men participated in the large communal buffalo hunts. They used to drive the buffalo towards the men, who would shoot them with their longbows.

What were Cheyenne weapons and tools like in the past? Cheyenne hunters and warriors used powerful bows and arrows, clubs, and hide shields.

What are Cheyenne arts and crafts like? Cheyenne artists are famous for their fine quill embroidery, beadwork, pipestone carving, and pottery. You can see some photographs and read some more details about these art forms at our Native American arts site.

What kinds of stories do the Cheyennes tell? There are lots of traditional Cheyenne legends and fairy tales. Storytelling is very important to the Cheyenne Indian culture. Here is one story about a race among the animals.

Can you recommend a good book for me to read? If you like historical novels, we definitely recommend Cheyenne Autumn, a compelling story about the Northern Cheyenne people's flight to Montana (where they live today). Younger kids may like the story Cheyenne Again, about a Cheyenne child's experiences at boarding school, or Death of the Iron Horse, the true story of Cheyenne warriors' fight with a train. If you want to know more about Arapaho culture and history, a good source is The Cheyenne and Arapaho Ordeal, but because the Cheyennes were the victims of a terrible massacre in 1864, this and other books covering the 1800's may be too intense for younger kids. You can also browse through our reading list of recommended Native American books in general.