in the late 1800s, five indigenous nations were situated along the southern parts of western canada. the five nations were the blackfoot, peigans, sarcee and crees and blood. they were nomadic populations, which allowed them to move freely following the buffalo herds from which they gained a lot of their resources and were able to live. the 5 nations owned their lands and used them for hunting grounds as well as for settlement areas. their territories started in the southern parts of alberta and saskatchewan as well as northern montana. these plains included vast buffalo hunting which allowed them to sustain themselves and their culture. buffalo were the foundation of not only the economy of the people of the plains but also of their culture and way of life. the buffalo provided the people of the plains with food, clothing and warmth, fuel and sacred objects. the buffalo were a pivotal part of their way of life and greatly diminished due to overhunting in the plains. by 1879, the buffalo could no longer be found in any significant numbers across the plains leading the people to have different needs and require other ways of life.