Traditional Sleds

Who doesn’t enjoy watching the luge, bobsled or downhill skiing at the Winter Olympics? Rocketing downhill at such outrageous speeds is almost beyond belief.

The children of the various Sioux tribes, like children all across the world, enjoyed rushing down hills covered in snow and ice. American anthropologist, Rev. J. Owen Dorsey wrote at the end of the 19th century that Teton Sioux youngsters used sleds of different types and Oglala boys would coast down hill, standing erect on a piece of wood or bark like a barrel stave, holding a rein tied to one end.

Yankton Sioux boys had sleds made of buffalo rib bones lashed together with cloth or leather straps, such as shown in this photo.

Primary Source:
“Games 2 of the North American Indians,” by Stewart Culin