Blackfoot Confederacy

The Blackfoot Confederacy, also known as Niitsítapi or Siksikáí'tsitapi, was a group of related tribes called the Blackfoot or Blackfeet people. These included the Siksika ("Blackfoot"), the Kainai or Blood, and two sections of the Peigan or Piikani – the Northern Piikani and the Southern Piikani. Sometimes, groups like the Sarcee and Gros Ventre were also included because they worked closely with the Blackfoot.

Historically, these people were nomadic hunters who followed bison herds across the northern Great Plains of North America. They lived in areas that are now part of the United States and Canada, traveling as far north as the Bow River. In the 1700s, they got horses and guns from traders, which helped them grow stronger and spread their land.

Today, three Blackfoot groups live in the Canadian province of Alberta: the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations. In the United States, the Blackfeet Nation is recognized as a Native American tribe in Montana. The Gros Ventre are part of the Fort Belknap Indian Community in Montana, and the Tsuutʼina Nation is also a First Nation in Alberta.

Government

The four Blackfoot nations form the Blackfoot Confederacy, working together to support one another. Each nation has its own leader and government but meets often for special events and celebrations.

Originally, the Blackfoot Confederacy had three groups who shared a common language. Later, they allied with two more groups, even though these spoke different languages. These groups lived in small bands of families, moving together for hunting and staying safe. In the 1800s, governments made them stop moving and settle in special areas called reservations. Today, these groups still work together and call themselves the Niitsítapi, meaning "the Original People".

History

The Confederacy covered a large area from the North Saskatchewan River in what is now Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to the Yellowstone River in Montana, United States. Their land stretched from the Rocky Mountains to the Cypress Hills. They called their land Niitsitpiis-stahkoii, meaning "Original People's Land."

The Niitsitapi were made up of bands, groups of about 10 to 30 families. These bands worked together for protection and hunting. Each band had a leader and members who were not related by family. People could move between bands if needed. During summer, larger gatherings happened where warriors shared stories of brave acts. In winter, they lived in camps along rivers, where they stayed until food ran low. Spring brought the buffalo to the grasslands, and the people followed to hunt them. Their main ceremony, the Okan or Sun Dance, happened in midsummer when groups came together. They used buffalo hides for homes and clothing.

The Niitsitapi lived this way until the buffalo nearly disappeared by 1881. European settlers took over their land, and the Niitsitapi had to change their way of life. They faced new diseases and had to learn farming and other jobs. Today, their population has grown, and they work to keep their traditions alive.

Early history

The Niitsitapi, also called the Blackfoot or Blackfeet Indians, lived in the Great Plains of Montana and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The name "Blackfoot" came from the black soles of their moccasins. They originally lived in the northeastern United States near the Canada border and moved west over time, eventually settling in the Great Plains. They used dog-pulled sleds called travois to carry their things until they got horses in the 18th century.

Importance and uses of bison

The American bison, or buffalo, was very important to the Niitsitapi. They hunted buffalo using methods like driving them over cliffs or using hides to hide close to the herd. They used every part of the buffalo for food, clothing, tools, and even fuel for fires. The women prepared the meat and skins, making durable items like tepees and clothing.

Discovery and uses of horses

Horses changed life for the Niitsitapi. Before horses, they walked and used dogs to carry goods. Horses allowed them to travel faster and carry more. They became valuable and were used in trading and as a sign of wealth. Warriors also stole horses from other tribes to show bravery.

Enemies and warrior culture

The Niitsitapi faced many enemies, including the Crow, Cheyenne, Sioux, Shoshone, and others. They were especially rivals with the Iron Confederacy, made up of the Plains Cree and Assiniboine. Warriors earned respect by performing brave acts in battle, such as taking weapons from enemies or capturing horses.

First contact with Europeans and the fur trade

In 1754, Anthony Henday of the Hudson's Bay Company met the Blackfoot in what is now Alberta. Later, the Lewis and Clark Expedition also met them. The Niitsitapi traded with fur companies but faced diseases from Europeans, which reduced their numbers.

Indian Wars

The Niitsitapi mostly stayed out of wars with the United States and Canada. However, in 1870, a friendly band was mistakenly attacked by U.S. soldiers in the Marias Massacre, leading to tragedy. Despite this, leaders like Crowfoot kept the peace.

Further encroachment by Canada and United States

By the mid-1800s, the Niitsitapi lost their buffalo due to hunting by settlers. This forced them to rely on government food, which was often poor. Conflicts arose, and in 1870, a mistaken attack led to the Marias Massacre. The U.S. and Canada took more land, and the Niitsitapi struggled. By the late 1800s, they were forced onto reservations. Efforts to change their way of life included banning their traditions and sending children to schools far from home. By the 1930s, laws changed to allow them to govern themselves again and practice their culture.

Culture

Family was very important to the Blackfoot people. They would travel in small groups of 20 to 30 people but come together for celebrations. They valued good leaders and chose chiefs to guide their settlements. During peaceful times, they would choose a peace chief to lead and improve relationships with other tribes. A war chief was not chosen but earned by showing bravery in battle.

Young people joined special groups after proving themselves through rituals. For example, young men would go on a vision quest alone for four days to seek guidance for their future. In warrior groups, men prepared for battle and carried special decorated sticks called coup sticks to show their skill.

Women had important roles too. They made clothes, cared for children, and prepared food. They also used special plants like sage and sweet grass in ceremonies to bring good energy and purify things.

In Blackfoot culture, men chose their marriage partners, but women could accept or refuse them. The man would show his skills to the woman’s father. If approved, they would exchange gifts and become married. Men could have more than one wife but usually chose just one.

Both boys and girls learned important skills from a young age. Boys learned to hunt with their fathers, while girls learned to cook, make clothes, and care for children. Traditional clothes were made from animal hides, and both men and women wore decorative items made from shells and beads.

The Blackfoot told stories about the sun and moon, and their creation story explains how the world began with a leader named Napi and four animals who helped bring life to the earth.

People

The Blackfoot Confederacy includes several groups who share similar languages and traditions. The largest group is the Piegan, also called Peigan or Pikuni. They live in two main areas: the Piikani Nation in Alberta, Canada, and the South Peigan or Piegan Blackfeet in Montana, United States.

Other groups in the Confederacy are the Kainai, known as the Blood, and the Siksika. There are also groups like the Sarcee and Gros Ventre who joined the Confederacy even though their languages are different.

Today, many Blackfoot people live on reservations in Canada and the United States. They face challenges such as unemployment, but many work as farmers or in other trades. Some Blackfoot operate businesses, and they continue to teach their traditional languages and customs to their children. Important cultural events include the North American Indian Days celebration and the Sun Dance, which honors their beliefs and brings the community together. The Blackfeet Nation in Montana has a special flag that represents their identity and history.

Notable Blackfoot people

• Eugene Brave Rock, actor, stuntman, and activist
• Elouise Cobell, banker and activist who led a lawsuit that led the US Government to change how it handled money for Native American people
• Byron Chief-Moon, performer and choreographer
• Crowfoot, Chief of the Siksika or Blackfoot people
• Aatsista-Mahkan ("Running Rabbit"), Chief of the Siksika and signer of Treaty No.7
• A-ca-oo-mah-ca-ye ("Feathers" or "Old Swan"), Chief of the Siksika
• Stu-mick-o-súcks ("Buffalo Bull's Back Fat"), Head Chief of the Kainai
• Faye HeavyShield, Kainai sculptor and artist
• Joe Hipp, Heavyweight boxer, the first Native American to compete for the WBA World Heavyweight Title.^{[failed verification]}
• Beverly Hungry Wolf, author
• Stephen Graham Jones, author
• Earl Old Person, Blackfoot tribal chairman for many years
• Jerry Potts (1840–1896), plainsman, buffalo hunter, and interpreter of Kainai-Scottish descent
• Steve Reevis, actor who appeared in Fargo, Dances with Wolves, Last of the Dogmen, Comanche Moon and many other films and TV shows
• Misty Upham (1982–2014), actress
• James Welch (1940–2003), author
• The Honourable Eugene Creighton, judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta.
• Gyasi Ross, author, attorney, musician and political activist.
• Lily Gladstone, actress, who is part Blackfoot and Nez Perce
• Sinakson Trevor Solway, filmmaker

Representation in other media

The Blackfoot people have appeared in some books and films. In Hergé’s Tintin in America from 1932, the Blackfoot people were shown. Another film, Jimmy P from 2013, tells the story of a Blackfoot man named Jimmy Picard. The film looks at how a doctor helped him understand his feelings after World War II. The film was based on a book written in 1951.