Plains. The eventual decline of the fur trade and overhunting of the bison herds by Canadian and American hunters, which destroyed the Confederacy nations' most important food source, led to the defeat and breaking up of the confederacy. It engaged in military action with Canada during the North-West Rebellion. Traditional lifestyle Traditionally the Assiniboine were semi-nomadic people. During the warmer months, they followed and hunted the herds of plains bison. Women, as life-givers, have had primary responsibility for the survival and welfare of the families (and future of the tribe). Women usually gathered and cultivated plants, used plants and herbs to treat illnesses, cared for the young and the elderly, made all the clothing and instruments, and processed and cured meat and skins from the game. The women processed and preserved the meat for winter, and used hides, tendons, and horns for clothing, bedding, tools, cord and other items. Every part of the animal was used by the people. The men hunted, traded and made war on horseback using bow and arrows. The tribe is known for its excellent horsemanship. They first obtained horses by trading with the Blackfeet and the Gros Ventre tribes. Assiniboine, Stoney (as well as Lakota and Dakota) girls were encouraged to learn to ride, hunt and fight. Though fighting in war has mostly been left to the boys and men, occasionally women have fought as well – both in battles and in defense of the home – especially if the tribe was severely threatened. They worked with the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara tribes. The Sun god and Thunder god were considered the most important manifestations of the Great Spirit. The Assiniboine people participated in the sun dance like other Plains Native peoples. They also took guidance from personal visions in vision quests. The ("Assiniboine Nation"), was historically divided into up to 40 separate (bands), each of which was led by its own (tribal chief) and an advisory band council - the so-called ("little chiefs"). Other important personalities were the (war chief), who led the warriors in war, and the (medicine man), who acted both as a religious leader and traditional healer. War deeds, important news, and decisions by the band council were announced by the (camp crier), the (soldier; camp watcher) acted as "police" and were responsible for maintaining order in the camp, on the hunt and at wartime. The individual bands were again divided