Buffalo-Hide Parfleche
Discover the timeless beauty of Native American designs. This parfleche is so contemporary!
1. Find historic and contemporary information about the cultures of one or more of the Native American Plains Indians including the Sioux, Crow, and Blackfoot. Learn about their homes, foods, everyday life, transportation, and tribal governance. They used parfleches, or rawhide envelopes and boxes, to carry their belongings while following bison (often called buffalo) herds. What designs were common? Choose one or more of these distinctive patterns to duplicate on a replica of a parfleche.
2. Cover your work area with newspaper. Carefully separate four large brown paper grocery bags where they are glued together. Measure and cut out four rectangles approximately 27 by 18 inches (69 by 46 cm) with Crayola® Scissors. Round the rectangle corners.
3. Soak or spray the four sheets of paper with water. Gently crumple to squeeze out excess water. Use a Crayola Paint Brush or sponge to spread Crayola School Glue on each damp sheet. Layer one on top of the other, with print facing inward. Place heavy objects on top to flatten the bags. Dry.
4. Fold the top of the layered bags down about 5 1/2 inches (14 cm). Fold the bottom up until it almost touches the top flap. Fold each side into the center to form two flaps. Place heavy objects on the parfleche to hold its shape.
5. Decorate the outside of the parfleche with Crayola Crayons, using a colorful, authentic Plains Indian design.
6. Punch holes on the top and bottom of each flap. Thread strings or ribbons through the holes to close the parfleche.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
Sponges and Foam—Sponges, foam, and other expandable materials should not be used with children 3 years old and younger.
String-Like Materials—Includes string, raffia, lacing, yarn, ribbon, and other similar material. Children 3 years and younger should not be given any string-like material that is longer than 12 inches. Close adult supervision is essential whenever children use string-like material. When crafts are to be worn around the necks of children 8 years and younger, attach the ends of the “string-like material” with clear adhesive tape, which allows easy release of the bond if the craft becomes entangled or caught on equipment. For children older than 8 years, the ends of the “string-like material” may be tied and knotted.
- The thunderbird allegory is also found in the mythology of Pacific Northwest and Northeastern tribes. Find out more about this powerful symbol, and its links to trickster folklore.
- Parfleche combines two French words, parer (to deflect) and fleche (arrow). How do you think this traditional Plains Indian item came to have a French name?
- Learn about the wide array of Native American symbols and designs and discover what they mean. How were they used on clothing, household items, and for rituals by various tribes and nations? Where have they been adopted for use today?
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