The Blackfoot people live in the northern Plains in Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA. We are made up of three groups: The Siksika were usually found in the north and eastern part of the territory. This name translates as Blackfoot. The Kainai lived in the central part of the territory. Kainai means Many Leaders. We are also known as the Bloods. The Pikani camped along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and the southern edge of the territory. Today they are divided into the Amsskaapipikani (Southern Pikani) in Montana and the Apatohsipikani (Northern Pikani) in southwestern Alberta.
Although we all share a common language and culture, there are differences among our tribes in some of our practices.
Traditionally, our people were nomadic. We travelled constantly throughout our Territory, hunting game and collecting plants. In the past, we were not united in any formal alliance, but because the three divisions often supported one another, many people referred to us as the Blackfoot Confederacy. Today we live a modern life Read More
The Blackfoot people live in the northern Plains in Alberta, Canada, and Montana, USA. We are made up of three groups:
Although we all share a common language and culture, there are differences among our tribes in some of our practices.
Traditionally, our people were nomadic. We travelled constantly throughout our Territory, hunting game and collecting plants. In the past, we were not united in any formal alliance, but because the three divisions often supported one another, many people referred to us as the Blackfoot Confederacy. Today we live a modern life on four reserves in the United States and Canada, and we work together to find ways to keep our culture alive.
We call ourselves Nitsitapii, although we are known as the Blackfoot. We have many stories of the Spomi-tapi-ksi (the Sky Beings) who are part of our world and who have helped us and taught us many important lessons. The Spomi-tapi-ksi guide us on our journeys and define the seasons.
All beings must coexist to survive in the world. The Spomi-tapi-ksi stories are used to teach respect for all of life and to encourage peaceful coexistence. We have many stories about people who have died and become stars. These stories remind us of proper behaviours.
Glenbow Museum
Chief Mountain, Montana, UNITED STATES
© Glenbow Museum
Canadian Heritage Information Network
© Canadian Heritage Information Network, 2003
Canadian Heritage Information Network
© Canadian Heritage Information Network, 2003
In this Blackfoot story from the North American Plains, six children felt neglected by their parents. They went up to the sky to become the Six Lost Boys, the Pleiades.
As told by Clifford Crane Bear, Siksika
© Canadian Heritage Information Network, 2003
When bison are first born, they are yellow in colour. The six buffalo tails on this necklace are symbolic of the story of the six children who went up to the sky to become the Bunch Stars, also known as Pleiades. Old Sun, leader of the Medicine Man Clan of the northern Siksika wore this necklace when he was a child. It reminds adults not to neglect the wishes of their children.
Siksika
Glenbow Museum
c. mid 1800s
Necklace
AF 358
© Glenbow Museum
Warriors often painted images of their deeds on their shields. The zig-zag lines and half-circles indicate the number of times the owner was a scout on a raiding party. The buffalo figure connects the owner to the power of the buffalo. The six feathers remind us of the story of the six lost boys who became the Bunch Stars.
Siksika
Glenbow Museum
c. 1900
AF 763
© Glenbow Museum
According to the Blackfoot of the North American Plains, there was once a camp of 10 lodges. In one of them lived a family of nine children, seven boys and two girls. While the six older brothers were away on the war-path, the eldest girl, Bear Skin Woman, married a grizzly bear. Her father was so angered that, with the help of the others, he surrounded the grizzly’s cave and killed him. When Bear Skin Woman found out about her husband’s death, she changed into a huge grizzly bear, becoming Bear Skin Woman. She attacked the camp, killing everyone, including her father and mother. She spared her youngest brother and sister. The two were greatly frightened when they overheard her talking to herself, planning how she might kill them. One day, when the younger sister went to the river for water, she met her six brothers returning from the war-path. She told them what danger they were in, and they planned to rescue her. She gathered many prickly pears and was instructed to place them in front of the lodge in such a way that there would be a safe way for the children to escape. The children left the lodge at midnight. When the older sister heard them leave, she followed, Read More
According to the Blackfoot of the North American Plains, there was once a camp of 10 lodges. In one of them lived a family of nine children, seven boys and two girls. While the six older brothers were away on the war-path, the eldest girl, Bear Skin Woman, married a grizzly bear. Her father was so angered that, with the help of the others, he surrounded the grizzly’s cave and killed him. When Bear Skin Woman found out about her husband’s death, she changed into a huge grizzly bear, becoming Bear Skin Woman. She attacked the camp, killing everyone, including her father and mother. She spared her youngest brother and sister. The two were greatly frightened when they overheard her talking to herself, planning how she might kill them. One day, when the younger sister went to the river for water, she met her six brothers returning from the war-path. She told them what danger they were in, and they planned to rescue her. She gathered many prickly pears and was instructed to place them in front of the lodge in such a way that there would be a safe way for the children to escape. The children left the lodge at midnight. When the older sister heard them leave, she followed, only to step on the prickly pears. Roaring with pain, she changed herself into a bear again and ran after her brothers. The younger brother had strong medicine powers.
When Bear Skin Woman overtook them, the younger brother shot an arrow into the air. Immediately the children found themselves just as far in advance of their sister as the arrow flew. Bear Skin Woman got close again, but the younger brother waved his medicine feather, which brought thick underbrush in her way. Then he made a lake come between them. Finally, in the last effort to escape, he made a large tree into which the seven brothers and their little sister climbed. But the grizzly knocked the four lowest from the tree. She was about to kill them when the younger brother waved his medicine feather and, singing a song, shot an arrow into the air. Immediately the little sister arose to the sky. He shot six arrows, and each time a brother went up. Finally the younger brother followed, and all of them together formed the family of the Seven Brothers. They took the same position in the sky that they had in the tree. The small star at one side of the handle is the younger sister, while the four at the bottom are the brothers who had been knocked from the tree by their sister, the grizzly.
- As told by Brings Down the Sun, Apatohsipikani.
Joane CARDINAL-SCHUBERT, R.C.A.Canadian; First Nations; Blood (1942-)
Glenbow Collection, Purchased with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts Acquisitions Assistance Program and with the Glenbow Collections Endowment Fund
1987
oil pastel, watercolour, pencil on wove paper
20002000.002.001
© Glenbow Museum
Dick and Beth Soop show their decorated robe, Kainai, 1944. The robe represents the Bunch Stars, the Big Dipper and the Milky Way.
Glenbow Archives
NA 5550-10
© Glenbow Archives
Glenbow Archives
1930s
NA 1241-869
© Glenbow Archives
Navelcord amulet, Blackfoot, 1960s Children of wealthy families often had their umbilical cords sewn into special pouches; snake- shaped for boys; lizard-shaped for girls. The children wore these on their left shoulders, above their hearts. The star motif on this amulet kept the power of the Above Beings with the child and gave her courage in her young life.
Glenbow Museum
1960s
AF 4262
© Glenbow Museum
One of our ancient stories tells how a man named Scarface travelled to live with Natosi (Sun), Kokomi-kisomm (Moon) and Ipiso-waahsa (Morning Star). During his time with them he had many adventures and received many gifts, including the sweatlodge and the bow and arrow.The sweatlodge is very important to our ceremonial life.
Glenbow Museum
AF 742
© Glenbow Museum
After the woman who married Morning Star returned to earth, her son was turned into a puff ball. These fungi ,which we call Kakatosii, grow in many places on the prairie. We use the puffball powder to stop bleeding and haemorrhage. The puff ball is often shown along the bottom edge of tipi designs.
Glenbow Museum
© Glenbow Museum
Glenbow Museum
early 1900s
R84.10 a-b
© Glenbow Museum
The Wolf Trail reminds us of the time our ancestors were taught how to survive by the wolves.
According to the Blackfoot people of the North American plains, Makoiyi, the wolves, were the first Ksahkomi tapiksi (Earth Beings) to pity us. One snowy winter, when our people were starving, a young man and his family camped by themselves as they searched for food. The wolves found the family and appeared to them as young men bringing fresh meat to their tipi. The wolves took this family with them back to their camp. There, there were many different animals camped together, and they helped the family to set up, make a fire and get food. The animals shared many spiritual gifts with the man and also showed the man how to co-operate with other people when he hunted buffalo and other animals. The wolves also told our ancestors that animals with hoofs and horns were all right to eat, but that animals with paws and claws should be left alone. The wolves disappeared in the spring, but we still see them in the sky as Makoi-Yohsokoyi (Wolf Trail). These stars constantly remind us of how we should live together.
He invited the important men of the different clans and he fed them and he told them the story of how he got saved by the animals and that he was given the powers and he shared everything with them. And he told what the wolf man had told him that up in the skies you are going to see the trail [the Milky Way] in the future and you are going to have to pray to that trail. There are human beings there, there are spirits there, they are going to help you. They are powerful.
That’s the story of the wolf trail. That’s how it was given to us, to look up in the sky and to always revere that trail that it’s a sacred thing. It’s not just there, it’s for people in the future to always think about it, to look up at the skies. And then that it has stayed there we don’t know how long but it’s still there today. And it’s going to be there for all times. And that’s where the story boils.
I would think the lesson taught in that story is the virtue of caring, of giving, and of sharing, and of respect. I think that was what the lesson and to respect all of creation. Because all of creation comes from the Creator, created the skies, and the earth, and the animals on the land, and the birds of the air, and the animals in the water. Everything is connected. We are all the creatures of the same Creator that created us.
As told by Rosie Day Rider and Louise Crop Eared Wolf, Kainai
© Canadian Heritage Information Network, 2003
Glenbow Museum
© Glenbow Museum
The learner will: