The tools commonly used by the Dakota Indians were fairly basic and universal. There were some tools however that were specific to seasons, such as the ice sled runners made from the rib cage of a buffalo and the snowshoes made from the rawhide of a buffalo. As you can see, there is a trend of using the buffalo in these goods and is the predominent source of all the materials needed for making the tools of the Dakota. Hoes (shoulder blade), fleshing tools (tibia and femur), thread (sinew), paintbrushes (hip and shoulder blade), fuel (dung), water buckets (the paunch), cutlery, cups and, bowls (the horns and bones), and glue (hoofs and hide). Not all tools were obtained from the buffalo though. Flint, with a layered fracture, was also very useful for making spear and ax heads, and also knives.
