Everybody did their part around the camp. There was work a plenty and even man’s best friend got pressed into service. Mundane chores like getting kindling for the fires were made easier and more productive by using the family dog and a device called the travois.

The travois was simply two long poles held apart by a couple of stretcher poles to form an “A” shape when seen from the top. The top part of the “A” was then attached to the family dog for its motive power and off to work you went.

There was a compromise made between the owner and the dog as to how much one would load onto the travois. Too much and the dog would simply lie down. Not enough and the dog was insulted, so the dialogue was constant. “How you doing boy, can you handle some more?” and reinforced with many “atta boy’s” and “good dog’s” a bargain was struck, good will was maintained and work got done. Travois were love powered.

In its larger form the travois was attached to a horse and a families lodge and all their possessions could be loaded on it and the entire camp could be on the move in no time at all. Sometimes one or more of the families’ kids could be strapped on top of the load so mom didn’t have to carry them. Making work easier was always a priority because there was so much of it. Travois were the utility trailers of the day.