Indigenous peoples understood plains ecology, seasonal movement, fuel availability, weather, and bison long before Euro-American migration.
Beyond a settler story
Buffalo-chip use should not be presented as if emigrants discovered it in an empty landscape.
Editorial responsibility
Use tribal, museum, oral-history, and Indigenous-authored sources wherever possible.
Frequently asked questions
What does bodewash mean?
Dried buffalo or cow dung used as fuel.
Is it the same as buffalo chips?
The terms can overlap, though buffalo chips is more familiar.
Where did the word come from?
It developed from American French bois de vache.
Why did people burn dung?
Because wood was scarce or costly to transport.
Did only settlers use it?
No. Indigenous and pastoral communities had longstanding fuel knowledge.
Is indoor burning safe?
Solid-fuel smoke can harm health; this site documents history rather than recommending use.