Cultural Uses
Elementary School
Definition
The traditional ways in which a culture uses plants and animals, such as for food, medicine, clothing, tools, or ceremony. Studying cultural uses shows the close relationship between people and the living things in their environment.
Worked examples
Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest use cedar trees for canoes, houses, clothing, baskets, and medicines.
One plant species can have many cultural uses across different aspects of daily life.
Plains cultures traditionally used bison for food (meat), shelter (hides for tipis), tools (bones), and ceremony (skulls).
A single animal can be central to a culture, with nearly every part having a specific use.
Common mistakes
- Cultural uses are only about food or hunting → Cultural uses include food, medicine, clothing, tools, shelter, and ceremony People use living things in many ways — cultural uses span all parts of life, not just eating.
- All cultures use the same plants and animals the same way → Different cultures use local species in unique ways shaped by environment and tradition Cultural uses depend on what species are available locally and each culture's knowledge and needs.
Where you'll use it next
You'll apply cultural uses when studying ecosystems and human impact, biodiversity and conservation, ethnobotany, and how traditional knowledge informs sustainable practices and resource management.
See also
Indigenous PracticesLocal KnowledgeNatural ResourcesResource ManagementSustainable PracticesBiodiversity
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026