American Indian Survival Skills

American Indian Survival Skills by Hunt, W. Ben. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780696111211.

Outdoor Life Books, Meredith Press, 1991. (ISBN 0-696-11121-7) Hardcover with dust jacket, adapted from "The Complete How-To Book of Indian-craft." Good copy, good jacket. 40 remarkable photographs from museum archivs around the country. They were mystics, hunters and living in harmony with nature, tracking game for weeks at a time, and valiantly engaging in battles with their enemies. They knew how to survive — using only their basic skills — in hostile climates and terrains. They were Native Americans. W. Ben Hunt, whose Sioux name was Tasunka Witko, was born over 100 years ago. He traveled throughout the Midwest, living with several Native American tribes, finally settling near the site of the last Sioux uprising. During his travels, Hunt created a series of line drawings and calligraphic plates which captured the survival techniques that Indians used. Many of these original plates are reproduced in "American Indian Survival Skills." What makes them especially useful is Hunts love of detail; he provides step-by-step instructions and exact dimensions. Youll Sioux ghost shirts like those worn at the Battle of Wounded Knee; Plains Indian shields decorated with feathers and bear claws; War clubs and stone axes that can be fatal in the wrong hands; Box traps triggered with a bent sapling; Alaskan Eskimo snowshoes for service in harsh weather; Knives and scrapers for every possible use; and Lacrosse sticks and other games-gear similar to ones used by the competitive Crow warriors. A flexible group, the Indians worked with materials they had on wood, leather, and stone. "American Indian Survival Skills" has included over 65 projects for authentic Indian articles — from tepees to tom-toms — with 4 full color paintings by George Catlin, as well as 40 photographs from museums archives throughout the country. History, How-To.