Part of indigenous peoples' respect for animals comes from their history of heavy reliance on animals for survival. Not only were they food, animals provided clothing, shelter, tools, and guided people to sources of food and water. An abundance of animals ensured a group's own abundance, and generally served to determine where a group would travel seasonally. Animals were so valuable that almost every part of a slain animal could be put to some use and very little was wasted. Naturally, they were also revered as one of the Creator's most sacred gifts to the people.
Indigenous peoples' knowledge of animals did contribute to early settlers' survival. For instance they were taught to make pemmican, better tracking and hunting skills in the new land, and traded their own goods for animal products made by the natives.