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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