Arapaho << uh RAP uh hoh >> are a tribe who once hunted on the Great Plains of North America. They moved about frequently, living in tipis and following buffalo herds, their major source of food. At first, the Arapaho fought to keep white settlers from taking their hunting lands. But the Arapaho made peace in the 1860’s and 1870’s and moved to reservations.
The Arapaho religion involved belief in a powerful spirit world. The most important religious ceremony was the sun dance. The Arapaho also had two sacred objects, a ceremonial pipe called the flat pipe and a wooden hoop called the wheel. The men belonged to special clubs that performed sacred ceremonies and enforced tribal laws. A women’s group that was called the Buffalo Society also carried out certain rituals.
Today, there are about 8,000 Arapaho. They have split into three groups: (1) the Southern Arapaho of Oklahoma; (2) the Northern Arapaho of Wyoming; and (3) the Gros Ventre. The Arapaho work in farming, ranching, and other occupations. The Northern Arapaho also receive income from petroleum and natural gas obtained from their land.
