State Historical Society of Iowa

Meskwaki Boy's Bow and Arrows, Date Unknown

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Meskwaki Boy's Bow and Arrows, Date Unknown
Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, Greiner, Chuck, Date Unknown

Description

Men and young boys went on seasonal hunts for large and small game, including deer and buffalo, and later engaged in fur trading. Young boys were taught to hunt for small game to supplement the family's food supply. Small blunt-ended arrows were used to knock out rabbits, squirrels and birds. After the fall harvest, bands traveled to their winter hunting grounds, leaving some food in the storage pits of the summer house.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • These are arrows and a bow that young boys would use to hunt for small game, like rabbits or squirrels. Why would young boys hunt for these types of animals?
  • Why was the job of hunting important for the tribe?
  • To learn more about Meskwaki history and the importance of hunting, read this short article.