How did Plateau peoples use seasonal camps for hunting and gathering?

Traditionally, Plateau peoples resided in permanent villages during the winter, while the remainder of the year was divided between these settlements and various semipermanent camps established for hunting and gathering.1

These seasonal camps were strategically situated to facilitate foraging activities during fair weather. While winter villages were typically located near waterways to access abundant fish, families traveled to upland locales for hunting and gathering excursions. Housing at these foraging camps was designed for mobility and ease of construction, ranging from simple windbreaks to small, conical mat-covered lodges. These structures, which averaged 15 to 30 feet in diameter, were typically used by individual nuclear or three-generation families.12

Following the adoption of the horse, some groups became increasingly nomadic, shifting their focus toward hunting buffalo on the Plains. During these expeditions, these groups adopted the tepee as their primary mobile dwelling, eventually utilizing it as a full-time residence as their lifestyle became more migratory.12