Native American tribes existed on this continent for many ages before the Europeans settled here. They lived in harmony with the land and were without many of the things we take for granted today. They had traditions, skills, and abilities that helped them survive for many centuries. Some of these skills have been nearly forgotten. We can still learn from these powerful ancient peoples. Here is a list of skills that we can apply to modern survival techniques.
Approach of the Great Bear by Rick McCollum
Stealth
Native Americans knew how to hunt and hide without being noticed because they understood how to blend in with the land. Their techniques allowed them to catch prey and gain the strategic advantage over enemies. They understood the importance of being careful where they walked, about blending in with the scenery and not alerting others to their presence.
They painted their bodies, chose their clothes to match the surrounding terrain and established camps by building structures that were hard to detect from a distance. These are all practices that people who are trained and experienced with wilderness survival still use, and its important to keep them in the front of our minds
Reading the Environment
Native Americans knew their territory and understood how to read the land. The could take cues from the sky, wind, what other animals did and make decisions accordingly. We have lost this ability because of our modern distractions that keep us from really listening and observing things. Nature has so much to tell us, and it is important to take the time to observe and learn what is being said.
The important lesson is that they knew their surroundings. They understood what was normal and out of place. They could tell when the rain would come by how the wind blew or how the air felt. They could sense danger by smell or hearing other animals fleeing. They took each step with care and they trusted their instincts. All of these things are habits that were developed by virtue of practice and experience, and we can benefit from really reading our environment as well.
