One of the 25 essential Native American survival skills is fire. Native Americans had several different ways of starting a fire. Some methods were as simple as striking a stone with a match and catching the spark on a pile of tinder. Others relied on friction from rubbing sticks together, which created enough heat to ignite the tinder. Fire pump drills also included string wrapped around a stick and controlled by a bow.

Natural remedies

The use of herbal remedies in Native American medicine is centuries old. For example, Native Americans often used tobacco as a medicinal remedy and smoked it instead of drinking alcohol or using cigarettes. They also smoked tobacco in its purest form, avoiding any chemical additives or preservatives. Sage is another plant used as a remedy, reputed to cure multiple body problems and draw bad spirits from the body. Whether it's a medicinal herb or a natural medicine, Native Americans have used plants for a thousand years for healing.

Adaptability

While there are many important qualities a person must have in order to survive, one of the most important is adaptability. There is no such thing as a "one-size-fits-all" approach to survival. Instead, people must learn to adapt on the fly, using whatever they have on hand. Adaptability was a vital quality for Native Americans, as they learned to make the most of what they had while using whatever resources were available.

Blending in

Learning to blend in is essential for Native Americans. It can help you avoid unwanted attention and increase your survival chances. Unlike today, in the past, natives lived entirely off the plants around them. Many tribes had medicine men that studied plants and used these knowledge to treat ailments. Most Indians were also familiar with herbal medicines. The key to blending in is to learn the language and cultural practices of both groups. The following techniques are useful for blending in with native communities.

Deadfalls

The concept of using deadfalls as Native American survival skills has many different applications. They can be used for trapping, as snares, fishing weirs, and spears. In addition, Native Americans used deadfalls for protection and to catch game. While this practice might sound primitive, it has a very long history. Here are just a few examples of how Native Americans used deadfalls.

Making a shelter

Many Native American cultures developed strategies to stay warm in harsh weather conditions. Their winter programs explore approaches to make a shelter out of natural materials, building a fire, and what they wore to keep their body heat in. While the techniques for these activities aren't new, they can be a valuable addition to any survival skill kit. Below are a few of the most important techniques you can learn from these programs.

Food preservation

Preserving food is a key survival skill. Even in times of plentiful food, it is important to be able to preserve food for later use. Native Americans developed a variety of techniques to preserve their food, some of which are still used today. They learned to dry their food to minimize the amount of moisture in it, which prevents microorganisms and enzymes from destroying it. Drying also decreases the weight of food, increases the amount of nutrients and intensifies flavor.