310 
the Algoiikian tribes of the eastern woodlands, for though the more 
northern bands, tlirough theii’ proximity to the forests, secured many 
moose, beaver, bear, and porcupine, the existence of the tribe as a 
whole depended on the migratory buffalo. Each family owned 
several dogs, which, hitched to the poles of the travois, rlragged the 
household possessions in summer and winter alike. ^ Rivers that the 
Indians encountered in their wanderings they generally forded or 
swam; but not infrequently they ferried themselves across in bull- 
boats, which were tub-like vessels covered with buffalo or moose- hide 
and ]iaddled from the front. Thus they followed the wanderings of 
the buffalo herds, dispersing into small bands during the winter 
months when the buffalo were more scattered and hunting difficult,^ 
and reuniting in spring for the great sun-dance festival and the 
driving of the herds into pounds. 
Foot-wanderers whose only transport animals are dogs must 
necessarily be slow of movement aiul cir’cumscribed in their range. 
Hence, the contacts of the Assiniboine with the hostile Blackfoot con- 
federacy were comparatively slight in early times. The weapons of all 
the plains’ tribes in Canada were practically identical. Besides the 
ubiquitous bow and arrow, there were a long-handled spear for close 
fighting, and three or four types of stone-headed clubs, as well as 
a wooden knobkerrie. Some men wore “Jackets of IMoose leather 
six fold, quilted and without sleeves” as a jn'otection against arrows ;■* 
and a notable warrier generally carried a shield of painted buffalo 
hide, decorated on its outer surface with painted scenes or figures 
derived from the vision in which he had received his supernatural 
blessing. Whatever protection this blessing afforded him then 
attached itself in part to the shield, which guarded its owner in 
battle and rested beside him in his grave."’ Whether he carried a 
1 Tlip wi'bbcd frame attaolied to the Assiniboine tra\'ois for iioldins; Cio bag,!>;af!f‘ was circular, the 
niackfoot made lioth a circular and a reclanffiilar (ladder-like) frame; and Assiniboine women, when 
erectiiiK their tipis, fastened thre<! poles tosiefhcr to form a base, whereas the Blackfoot women 
fastened four. Numerous otlier difference.® of a similar character distingiiisherl one plains' tribe from 
another, apart from differencc.s in social customs, reliKious rituals, and IniiRuage, 
2 “ York Factory to llie Blackfoot Country”, p. 329. A few Assiniboine who travelled down to 
the trariidK post at York Factory on Ilud.son bay learned to make, birch-bark canoes from the Cree, 
but the majority of the tribe, and flie Blackfoot, were isnorant of their nse. “ An .Adventurer from 
Hudson Bay; Journal of Matthew Cocking, from York Factory' to the Blackfoot Country', 1772-73”; 
edited by' L. J. Burpee, Proc. an<l Trans., Roy, Soc., Canada, 3icl ser., vol. ii, sec. ii, i>p. 104, 114, 
116 (Toronto, 1908). 
2 On Bed river, according to John McDonnell (1793-1797). “they' generally winter together in large 
camps, and make what tlie French call pares, an enclosure of wood in the form of a fence and circu- 
lar, into which they drive wliole herds of Buffalo,” Masson: Op. cit., i, p. 297. 
4 ‘‘ .All Ad\‘entiirer from Hudson Bay,” pii. 110-111. 
f* Among tlie Assiniboine. Among the Blackfoot and .Sarcee the shield, the .special shirts, and the 
war-bonnets were regarded as ” medicine-bundles,” and transferred at intervals, with the appropriate 
rituals and songs, from one warrior to another. 
