Admin Table of Contents
What happened to the Blackfoot Indian tribe?
Historians believe the Blackfeet, forced out of their ancestral grounds in today’s upper Great Lakes region by white advancement, were one of the first Native American tribes to head West. Two other bands – the Bloods and the North Blackfeet – now reside on Canadian Indian preserves scattered throughout Alberta.
How did the Blackfoot tribe interact with other tribes?
The Blackfeet usually communicated with these tribes using the Plains Indian Sign Language. Sometimes the Blackfeet tribe was friendly with these other tribes, trading goods and intermarrying. Other times they fought wars against each other.
What did the Blackfoot tribe value?
Each Blackfoot community lived on its own reservation or reserve, which means the land belonged to the tribe and is under their control. The Blackfeet people valued harmony, so every chief had to agree on a decision before action could be taken (this is called consensus).
What were the Blackfoot known for?
The Blackfoot were known as one of the strongest and most-aggressive military powers on the northwestern Plains. Each Blackfoot band was divided into several hunting bands led by one or more chiefs. These bands wintered separately in sheltered river valleys.
Who did the Blackfoot tribe fight?
Throughout most of the 18th and 19th centuries, the equestrian Blackfoot dominated their hunting area and were almost constantly at war with the Cree, Assiniboine, Crow, Nez Percé, Shoshone and other nations.
How did the Blackfoot make decisions?
Decisions within a camp were made by consensus. Leaders were recognized for their sound judgement, skill at bringing about a consensus, generosity, war record, and general ability. Leadership often shifted according to the situation; a war leader may not have been the leader of a buffalo hunt.
How did the Blackfoot tribe survive?
They were forced to move to reservations in Montana and Canada and take up farming to survive. What kind of homes did the Blackfoot people live in? The Blackfoot lived in teepees made from bison hides and wooden poles. Teepees were easy to break down and set back up.
How did the Blackfoot tribe interact with Europeans?
They established trading relationships with the Blackfoot tribe, which greatly impacted the Blackfoot economy and society. The Blackfoot eagerly traded for European technology, guns, and horses, and used these powerful new items to become even better hunters and warriors.
What was the Blackfoot tribe known for?
The Blackfoot were known as one of the strongest and most-aggressive military powers on the northwestern Plains.
What ceremonies did the Blackfoot have?
The Okan, or Sun Dance, is the Highest Blackfoot ceremony. Held every summer, when the sarvis berries are ripe, the Okan is a ceremony of prayer, sacrifice and renewal. It lasts a day and a half, during which time a hundred songs are sung, each one different from the others.