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Before contact with Europeans, the native people of North America were not a unified culture, but hundreds of different cultures and tribes, each with its own political organization, belief system, and language. When speakers of one language met those of another, be it in trade, advice, or conflict, they communicated in the lingua franca of the Plains Signs.
Scholars discuss exactly when, in their 30,000-year history in North America, tribes developed this sign language. It was observed among Florida tribes by 16th century Spanish colonizers. "Coronado, as documented in his diaries in 1540, was in Texas and met the Comanches," according to Garritson. "He documented that Comanches made themselves understood so well with the use of common sign language that there was almost no need for an interpreter. It was as easy to use as it was easy to understand."
Although each tribe had its own language, the tribes could easily communicate. Although universal throughout North America, the Plains Signs were more prominent among the nomadic nations of the plains, hence their name.
THe Battle of Little Big Horn explained in Crow language with Plains Signs
Words and sentences from the Hidatsa indigenous language together with Plains Signs
Stories about buffalo hunting, in Crow language with Plains Signs
Indian Prayer with signs
Arapahoe Genesis, explained in Crow with signs
Meeting of Indigenous Nations Leaders in 1930
Iron Tail and Bill Cody exchanging signs
An actor representing Buffalo Bill uses Plains Signs to tell a story.
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