Native Americans in Yellowstone
Before Yellowstone National Park's establishment, indigenous tribes utilized the natural resources there, most notably Obsidian Cliff. Many Native tribes mined obsidian there, using the obsidian to create tools and weapons. There are over 50 quarries on Obsidian Cliff, and millions of obsidian flakes have been found both surrounding the cliff and other places around the park. Using quarried obsidian, tribes created weapons like arrowheads and tools, which were incredibly important for many tribes' survival. The use of x-ray fluorescence to determine the original sources of obsidian showed Yellowstone origins found in places as far away as Michigan, proving that tribes traveled long distances to obtain this resource.
“Native Americans were hunting and gathering here for at least 11,000 years. They were pushed out by the government after the park was established. The Army was brought in to keep them out, and the public was told that Native Americans were never here in the first place because they were afraid of the geysers.”
-Doug MacDonald, anthropology professor at the University of Montana
When Yellowstone was established, Native tribes there were negatively impacted. Euro-Americans hadn't considered the Natives when establishing the park, so they didn't understand the cultural significance the area had to Native tribes. Instead of thinking of Natives, Euro-Americans only acknowledged their wants, forcing the tribes out of the park and onto reservations. This disrupted Native cultures, leading to some traditions being lost.
"The earliest evidence of humans in Yellowstone are two 11,500 to 10,900-year-old Clovis-type spear points found near Yellowstone Lake and north near the Yellowstone River."
“Pretty much anywhere you’d want to pitch a tent, there are artifacts...”
-Doug MacDonald, anthropology professor at the University of Montana
Used to hunt, Natives used obsidian to create spear tips using a process called knapping, chipping away flakes of obsidian.
Smithsonian Magazine