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Tidbits
- Hundreds of years ago, specific colours were associated with specific tribes. When trading began the purchase of colour beads created multicoloured regalia
- The Blackfoot controlled the area between the Rocky Mountains to the west, the Saskatchewan River to the north; the Missouri River to the south and the Milk River to the east
- Buffalo provided food for the Blackfoot and were therefore an important cultural symbol
- One of the largest ceremonies was the Sundance Ceremony. It was held in the summer, when the Blackfoot tribe assembled in one place and the Saskatoon berries were ripe
- It was believed that the person who designed the tipi held the powers of the animal associated with it
- The tops of Blackfoot tipis were often designed with stars and constellations
- Deer and Elk were also important design symbols for tipi decoration
- The Blackfoot Confederacy which consists of the Blackfoot, Peigan and Blood nations signed Treaty 7 in 1877
- If a tipi was owned by a warrior, the design might reflect a brave thing that he had done
- Tipis were held to the ground by stakes or stones that prevented it from blowing away from the prairie wind
- Tipis were generally made from buffalo hides
- The Blood people believe that animals have special powers and that they should be greatly respected
- The telling of stories and legends is known as oral history and was the primary way that Aboriginal People shared their values and beliefs with each generation
- The pipe was often smoked in friendship
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