Ever wonder how much water a buffalo bladder can hold?
It was common knowledge that the Pte/Tatanka (buffalo) bladder was used to hold and carry water back in the days of our Ancestors. How much water do you think a bladder could hold without busting or tearing? Bladders also vary in size depending on the age of the animal.
Hands on Demos- Blowing up the lung
We did this demonstration in a school shortly after we completed a Guided Buffalo Butchering with our Relatives on the Red Lake Reservation. Thankfully, we were given the opportunity to take parts of the Tatanka for this particular demo.
Students were encouraged to touch, smell and hold each part of the buffalo as we discussed how each part is used. We are thankful for the youth for showing us how to regain our youth-like perspectives so that we remain curious, hopeful, and keep asking questions while doing hands-on learning.
Harvesting Pine Pitch
Here is a cool story. When I(Arlo Sr) was a young man, I got poison ivy REALLY bad. It was so bad I begin to develop sores, mostly on my legs. I went to IHS(Indian Health Service) and got ointments and steroids but the sores never really subsided. It got a little disgusting. I was getting really irritated with it until, at my Grandmas house, a relative woman asked me if she could treat me. I said yes and after one application, I was cured. The stuff she used was the pine pitch.
We as a family all use various tree pitch’s and saps. We use it as a salve we mix with buffalo fat. It helps us clean our mouths. It’s a great lotion for your skin.