32 unbelievable facts about the Blackfeet tribe

Header image: Edward S. Curtis. Library and Archives Canada, C-019753 CC BY 2.0 DEED

The Blackfeet Tribe’s teepees always faced east, no matter where they were camped. They were also masters of artwork, known for elaborate paintings on their teepee walls. Unlike the headdresses of most other Native American tribes, the feathers on Blackfeet headdresses always stood vertically.

The Blackfeet tribe was one of the most interesting and dynamic tribes of the Great Plains, feared by many, though peaceful to the Lewis and Clark Expedition and neutral in many of the Indian Wars.

These above examples of Blackfeet tribe facts illustrate just how interesting they were. Read on for 32 fascinating facts about the Blackfeet tribe.

32 interesting Blackfeet tribe facts

1. Their teepee entrances always faced east

2. They were masters of many art forms, such as embroidery, basket making, painting, and beading

3. They painted designs on the outsides of their teepees

4. The historic collective name for all of the linguistically connected people who make up the Blackfeet tribe is Niitsitapi

5. The Blackfeet tribe located in Montana are called Aamsskáápipikani

6. In the Blackfoot language, “natosi” means “sun” and “oki” means “hello”

7. The Blackfeet used an oral language in addition to sign language

8. Feathers in the men’s headdresses stood straight up, unlike the headdresses of other tribes

9. There are around 17,250 registered Blackfeet tribal members in Montana, about 52% of which live on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation

10. Historians estimate that, at their peak, they were 15,000 members strong

11.  At their peak, Blackfeet territory stretched from Northern Saskatchewan to present-day southern Montana, near Yellowstone National Park

12. They were one of the first Great Plains tribes to use buffalo jumps, or pishkuns – steep cliffs over which they drove bison herds to hunt the injured bison in the ravines below

13. Bison was a primary source for all aspects of their life – they used every part of the bison for food, clothing, and equipment

14. Despite controlling much of the Montana territory through which the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed, the Blackfeet’s encounters with the explorers were mostly peaceful

15. They were less welcoming to the fur traders on the upper Missouri than they were to the Expedition, sometimes ending up in hostile confrontations with the fur traders

16. The Blackfeet Reservation is located in a stunning region of Montana along the eastern border of Glacier National Park, which serves as a devastatingly beautiful backdrop for the rolling hills of the reservation that stretch east

17. One classification of the Blackfeet tribe, called the Blackfoot Confederacy, consisted of four nations who all spoke the same Algonquin language, had defense treaties, held mutual ceremonies, and could intermarry

18. The Blackfeet Tribe consists of three groups: Kainah (Blood), Siksika (Blackfeet), and Piegan

19. The Blackfeet tribe in Montana descends from the Piegan branch. The other two groups, the Bloods and North Blackfeet, live on reservations in Alberta, Canada

20. Before migrating west to present-day Montana, they lived in the Great Lakes region

21. The origin of their name remains a mystery, though one account holds that it came from the blackening of their moccasin soles as they migrated west from the Great Lakes region to present-day Montana. Others claim that the tribe painted their mocassin soles black themselves

22. The Blackfeet diet consisted largely of bison meat, but also survived on roots, berries, and various plants, which they sometimes combined with bison meat and fat to make unique Blackfeet dishes, such as pemmican

23. Before acquiring guns from settlers, Blackfeet men hunted with bows and arrows, usually for antelope, deer, and buffalo

24. The immense size and advanced warrior skills struck fear in everyone they encountered

25. Despite the abundance of fish in North American waters, the Blackfeet only ate fish when other food sources were scarce.

26. Unlike many of the Great Plains tribes, the Blackfeet tried to stay neutral, staying out of many of the wars between settlers and other tribes. Nonetheless, they got caught in the middle of some encounters

27. During winter, the Blackfeet tribe would split into numerous smaller groups of 75 to 200 tribe members each and settle in wooded river valleys 

28. In the summer, the bands would gather for the annual Sun Dance, a principal ceremony centered around sacrifice and renewal. During the ceremony, they would accept new members to the tribe and existing members proved their worth through brave acts

29. Tribe members could join other bands and even become chiefs of other bands. This helped reduce inter-band fighting

30. Societies played a major role in the structure of each tribal band and included warrior groups, religious members, and women’s societies, each playing a fundamental role in tribal life

31. Despite being depicted as silent, sullen people, rarely speaking and never laughing, the Blackfeet were talkative, joyful, light-hearted, and delighted in fun

32. The tribe has played a key role in fighting to keep the Rocky Mountain front, a sacred piece of land that lies on the western border of their reservation, free from modern development 

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