Blackfoot
By Sarah Delaney
&
Emily .H. James
The People
• The Blackfoot Nation
consists of four distinct
nations who all share
historical and cultural
backgrounds, but have
separate leaders.
• The Siksika, Akainawa,
Pikanii and Blackfeet
nation.
• The Siksika, Akainawa
and Pikanii are located in
Alberta, Canada, and the
Blackfeet Nation in
Montana.
Location
• This map shows
that the
Blackfoot tribes
were all located
near each other.
But they are
spread through
Alberta,
Saskatchewan,
Manitoba, and
down through the
states.
History
• The Blackfoot people
lived long before first
pyramids were built.
• The were fierce warriors,
the strongest and most
aggressive military power
on the Northwestern
plains.
• They were also nomadic
(moved around a lot)
buffalo hunters
European
arrival
• In the beginning European arrival was good. The Europeans
gave them horses, and everyone got along
• But soon small pox ravages population in mid 1800’s
• And soon Europeans had wiped out buffalo herds.
• 100’s of Blackfoot Indians starved to death.
• The Blackfoot soon became dependent on government
rations.
Clothing
• The Blackfoot people used
hides to make their clothing,
deerskin for women’s dresses
and leggings and moose skin
for moccasins
• They decorated their clothing
with materials such as
porcupine quills, shells, bones
and paint made from natural
materials. When the Europeans
arrived they would trade furs
for beads to further decorate
their clothing.
This is called a Scaplock suit,
it was owned by a very
wealthy warrior in 1840. The
symbols on the suit make a
blessing to the sun, the weasel
and the bear.
Blackfoot Housing
• The Blackfoot moved often so it was
best for them to have homes that they
could take down and set back up
easily, therefore they lived in
structures called tipi’s or wigwams.
• The women were responsible for
setting up the wigwams which took
about 20 minutes.
• They were made out of deer skin,
buffalo, antelope or moose.
• Each wigwam had 4 long pine poles
joined together at the top with animal
leather. More poles were added and
then covered with animal skin.
• Each wigwam had flaps that were used
as doors. The flaps has 2 large poles so
that they could open and close easily.
Tipi Designs
• Blackfoot were known for their beautiful tipi/wigwam designs.
They painted them to honor the animal spirits and spirits of
nature. They believed that the spirit they used would help protect
their family.
• They said that the designs came to them through visions of
dreams from grandfather and grandmother spirit.
Religion
• Blackfoot religion is about one’s relations
with supernatural powers which is
created through visions and involving
ceremonies, songs and fetishes, ranging
from small charms to complex bundles.
• A ‘fetish’ is a bundle of trinkets, usually
received in a dream or vision. Also in a
dream the individual is given instructions
as to how and when to use each object in
the bundle.
• The bundles come from a spirit which
may be sun, thunder bird, moon, morning
star, eagle, buffalo, beaver, or a large
variety of other animals, birds and even
objects.
• The Sun Dance is a well known
Blackfoot ritual.
Language
• The Blackfoot people had an
Algonquian language spoken by
8,000 in Southern Alberta and
Northern Montana
• They have 2 main dialects:
Pikanii, and Siksika Blackfoot.
• Young people are still learning
Blackfoot but the language is
currently undergoing a linguistic
shift.
• Old Blackfoot is being spoken by
older generations and new
Blackfoot is being spoken by
younger ones.
Blackfoot Language
Here is a look at some English words translated to Blackfoot
English Word
1. Moon
2. Sun
3. Water
4. Hear
5. Sing
6. Dog
7. Man
8. Woman
Blackfoot Translation
1. Ko’kom ki’somm
2. Ki’s mm
3. Aohk
4. Yoohto
5. Inihki
6. Omitaa
7. N naa
8. Aak
Sources
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http://www.native-languages.org/blackfoot.htm
www.utexas.edu/courses/wilson/ant304/projects98/krochenskip/krochenskip.ht
ml
www.accessgeneralogy.com/native/tribes/siouan/blackfoothist.htm
www.blackfoot.org/
www.civilization.ca/aborig/mocasin/mocbf1e.html
www.tipis-tepees-teepees.com/images/Blackfoot_tipis.jpg
www.blackfeetculturecamp.com/images/jonnycrow_small.jpg
www.great_wisdomcenter.org/images/Tipi/jpg
www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/history/picture
www.snowwowl.com/images/blackfoot/images016.gif
http://www.glenbow.org/images/archpics/crowfoot.jpg
http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/berkeley/steward/stewardk.htm
singerseeker.zaadz.com/photos/view/80970
http://www.ammsa.com/buffalospirit/June-2000-images/transfer.jpg