Blackfoot
Bear Bull
Total population
32,000 The Blackfoot are an American Indian people. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (755x1024, 147 KB)Bear Bull, Blackfoot http://memory. ...
Regions with significant populations
Canada (Alberta) United States (Montana)
Language(s)
English, Blackfoot
Religion(s)
Christianity, other
Related ethnic groups
other Algonquian peoples

Chief Aatsista-Mahkan

Mehkskeme-Sukahs, Blackfoot chief (left) (Karl Bodmer)

The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi (meaning "original people"; c.f. Ojibwe: Anishinaabeg and Quinnipiac: Eansketambawg) is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana. For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Blackfoot is the name of any of the Algonquian languages spoken by the Blackfoot tribe of Native Americans, who currently live in the northwestern plains of North America. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... The Algonquian (also Algonkian) languages are a subfamily of Native American languages that includes most of the languages in the Algic language family (others are Wiyot and Yurok of northwestern California). ... Image File history File links Blackfoot chief Aatsista-Mahkan. ... Image File history File links Blackfoot chief Aatsista-Mahkan. ... Aatsista-Mahkan or Running Rabbit ( c. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 741 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (4002 × 3240 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 741 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (4002 × 3240 pixel, file size: 2. ... Karl Bodmer, (February 6, 1809-October 30, 1893), was a Swiss painter of the American West. ... The Anishinaabe language or the Ojibwe group of languages or Anishinaabemowin in Eastern Ojibwe syllabics) is the third most commonly spoken Native language in Canada (after Cree and Inuktitut), and the fourth most spoken in North America (behind Navajo, Cree, and Inuktitut). ... Anishinaabe or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek (which is the plural form of the word) is a self-description often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonkin peoples, who all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages. ... This article is about the Native American nation. ... First Nations is a Canadian term of ethnicity which refers to the aboriginal peoples located in what is now Canada, and their descendants who are neither Inuit nor Métis. ... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... Tribal sovereignty map of the United States, with non-reservation land highlighted. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

The Blackfoot Confederacy consists of the North Peigan (Aapátohsipikáni), the South Peigan (Aamsskáápipikani), the Kainai Nation (Káínaa: "Blood"), and the Siksika Nation ("Blackfoot") or more correctly Siksikáwa ("Blackfoot people"). The South Peigan are located in Montana, and the other three are located in Alberta. Together they call themselves the Niitsítapi (the "Original People"). These groups shared a common language and culture, had treaties of mutual defense, and freely intermarried. The Northern Peigans are a First Nation, part of the Blackfoot (Nitsitapii) nation. ... Sahpo Muxika, also known as Crowfoot, former Head Chief of the Blackfeet Nation The Piegan Blackfeet (Pikuni in Blackfoot) are a tribe of Native Americans based in Montana. ... The Kainai Nation (or Kainah, Kainaiwa) is an Native American tribe in southern Alberta, Canada. ... The Siksika Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ...

History and culture

The Blackfoot were fiercely independent and very successful warriors whose territory stretched from the North Saskatchewan River along what is now Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, to the Yellowstone River of Montana, and from the Rocky Mountains and along the Saskatchewan River past Regina. The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river flowing east from the Canadian Rockies to Lake Winnipeg. ... Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta, situated in the north central region of the province, an area with some of the most fertile farm land on the prairies. ... Yellowstone River, Fishing Bridge, July 1959. ... For individual mountains named Rocky Mountain, see Rocky Mountain (disambiguation). ... The Saskatchewan River (Cree: kisiskāciwani-sīpiy, swift flowing river)is a major river in Canada, approximately 550 km (340 mi) long, flowing roughly eastward across Saskatchewan and Manitoba to drain into Lake Winnipeg. ... Regina may refer to a place: Regina, Saskatchewan, the provincial capital of Saskatchewan, Canada. ...

The basic social unit of the Blackfoot, above the family, was the band, varying from about 10 to 30 lodges, about 80 to 240 people. This size of group was large enough to defend against attack and to undertake small communal hunts, but was also small enough for flexibility. Each band consisted of a respected leader, possibly his brothers and parents, and others who need not be related. Since the band was defined by place of residence, rather than by kinship, a person was free to leave one band and join another, which tended to ameliorate leadership disputes. As well, should a band fall upon hard times, its members could split-up and join other bands. In practice, bands were constantly forming and breaking-up. The system maximized flexibility and was an ideal organization for a hunting people on the northwestern Great Plains. For other uses, see Great Plains (disambiguation). ...

During the summer the people assembled for tribal gatherings. In these large assemblies, warrior societies played an important role. Membership into these societies was based on brave acts and deeds.

Blackfoot people were nomadic, following the buffalo herds. For almost half the year in the long northern winter, the Blackfoot people lived in their winter camps along a wooded river valley perhaps a day's march apart, not moving camp unless food for the people and horses or firewood became depleted. Where there was adequate wood and game resources, some bands would camp together. During this part of the year, buffalo wintered in wooded areas where they were partially sheltered from storms and snow, which hampered their movements, making them easier prey. In spring the buffalo moved out onto the grasslands to forage on new spring growth. The Blackfoot did not follow immediately, for fear of late blizzards, but eventually resources such as dried food or game became depleted, and the bands would split up and begin to hunt the buffalo. For the 2006 historical epic set in Kazakhstan, see Nomad (2006 film). ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Subspecies B. b. ...

In mid-summer, when the Saskatoon berries ripened, the people regrouped for their major tribal ceremony, the Sun Dance. This was the only time of year when the entire tribe would assemble, and it served the social purpose of reinforcing the bonds between the various groups and reidentifying the individuals with the tribe. Communal buffalo hunts provided food and offerings of the bulls' tongues (a delicacy) for the ceremonies. After the Sun Dance, the people again separated to follow the buffalo. Binomial name Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt. ... Sketch of a Siouan Sun Dance by George Catlin The Sun Dance is a ceremony practiced by a number of native americans. ...

In the fall, the people would gradually shift to their wintering areas and prepare the buffalo jumps and pounds. Several groups of people might join together at particularly good sites, such as Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. As the buffalo were naturally driven into the area by the gradual late summer drying off of the open grasslands, the Blackfoot would carry out great communal buffalo kills and prepare dry meat and pemmican to last them through winter and other times when hunting was poor. At the end of the fall, the Blackfoot would move to their winter camps. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains begin to rise from the prairie 18 km northwest of Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on highway 785. ... Pemmican is a concentrated food consisting of dried pulverized beef, dried berries, and rendered fat. ...

The Blackfoot maintained this traditional way of life based on hunting bison, until the near extinction of the bison by 1881 forced them to adapt their ways of life in response to the effects of the European settlers and their descendants. In the United States, they were restricted to land assigned in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 and were later given a distinct reservation in the Sweetgrass Hills Treaty of 1887. In 1877, the Canadian Blackfoot signed Treaty 7 and settled on reserves in southern Alberta. For other uses, see Extinction (disambiguation). ... Territories in the Americas colonized or claimed by a European great power in 1750. ... The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 was signed on September 17 between United States treaty commissioners and representatives of the Sioux, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Crow, Shoshone, Assiniboine, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara nations. ... Treaty 7 is an agreement concluded on 22 September 1877 between several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes, and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom in what is today the southern portion of Alberta. ... In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band. ...

Blackfoot gathering, Alberta. 1973

This began a period of great struggle and economic hardship; the Blackfoot had to try to adapt to a completely new way of life, as well as suffer exposure to many diseases their people had not previously encountered. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 577 pixelsFull resolution (1892 × 1364 pixel, file size: 219 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took this photo myself in 1973. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 577 pixelsFull resolution (1892 × 1364 pixel, file size: 219 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I took this photo myself in 1973. ... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... A disease is any abnormal condition of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, or distress to the person affected or those in contact with the person. ...

Eventually, they established a viable economy based on farming, ranching, and light industry, and their population has increased to about 16,000 in Canada and 15,000 in the U.S. today. With their new economic stability, the Blackfoot have been free to adapt their culture and traditions to their new circumstances, renewing their connection to their ancient roots.

Notable Blackfoot descendants

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

• Ananda Lewis, American TV/talk show host.
• Sole, rapper and wife of artist Ginuwine
• Mykelti Williamson, actor notable for portraying Bubba in the 1994 film Forrest Gump.
• Nick Carter & Aaron Carter, musicians, singers and former teen idols^[1]
• Tyson Tomko, a professional wrestler, has prominent tattoos scaling the upper-part of his body for his Blackfoot heritage.
• Kiri Davis, noted youth filmmaker and director of A Girl Like Me.
• Jonathan Brewer, Blood Tribe member and actor notable for playing Blunted in Apocalypto.^{[citation needed]}
• Blackie Lawless, the lead singer of the rock band W.A.S.P.

Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Ananda Lewis (born March 21, 1973 in San Diego, California) is an American model and television personality. ... Solè (born Tonya Michelle Johnston in Kansas City, Kansas) is an American rapper. ... Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, known by his stage name Ginuwine,(born October 15, 1975) is an American R&B singer and an occasional actor. ... Mykelti Williamson (born March 4, 1960 in St. ... For other uses, see Forrest Gump (disambiguation). ... Nickolas Gene Carter[1] (born January 28, 1980) is an American actor, musician and pop singer. ... Aaron Charles Carter[1] (born December 7, 1987)[1] is the younger brother of singer Nick Carter. ... Travis David Tomko (born March 23, 1976), is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Tomko, where he is one half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions, and New Japan Pro Wrestling under his full name, where he was one half... Kiri Davis is a young, African American filmmaker based in New York City, whose first documentary, done when she was enrolled in the Reel Works Teen Filmmaking organization, A Girl Like Me (2005) has received significant coverage. ... A Girl Like Me is a 2005 award-winning documentary by Kiri Davis. ... The Kainai Nation (or Kainah, Kainaiwa) is an Native American tribe in southern Alberta, Canada. ... Apocalypto is an Academy Award-nominated 2006 epic film directed by Mel Gibson. ... Steven Edward Duren (born September 4, 1956, in Staten Island, New York), better known as Blackie Lawless, is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for heavy metal band W.A.S.P.. He has become notorious in the heavy metal community for his live performances, controversial album... W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 and had continued success in the 1980s. ...

NICOLE ANDCHRIS ARE BLACKFOOTINDAINS

See also

• Blackfoot music

Blackfoot music (best translated in the Blackfoot language as nitsínixki - I sing, from nínixksini - song) is primarily a vocal kind of music, using few instruments (called ninixkiátsis, derived from the word for song and associated primarily with European-American instruments), only percussion and voice, and few words. ...

Notes

External links

• Blackfoot Nation
• Blackfoot Confederacy
• Blackfoot Language and the Blackfoot Indian Tribe