- Fact 2 - The Blackfoot tribe are a
a member of the north-western Plains Indian people of North
Dakota and South Dakota and the indigenous people
of Montana, Idaho, and Alberta, Canada. The
Algonquian language was spoken by the Blackfoot. The term 'blackfoot'
relates to the dark colored moccasins which they wore
- Fact 3 - The Blackfoot were a tribe of
nomadic hunter gatherers. Men were in charge of hunting for food
and protecting the camp and the women were in charge of the home
- Fact 4 - A tepee is constructed
from wooden poles and animal skins such as buffalo hides and
designed to be quickly set and quickly dismantled - a village
could be ready to move in an hour
- Fact 5 - The name of a famous Blackfoot leader
was Crowfoot who was a friend of Chief Sitting Bull who was of
the Sioux tribe. Crowfoot negotiated a peace agreement with the
Canadian government
- Fact 6 - Clothes and Clothing -
Clothes were generally made from the skins of animals which were
sewn together from the thread made from the sinews of deer.
- Fact 7 - Clothing for men: Men wore
breechcloths which were made from a long rectangular piece of
animal skin or cloth which was worn between the legs and tucked
over a belt, so that the flaps of the breechcloth covered the
front and behind. The legs were bare.
- Fact 8 - Clothing: Men also wore fringed
buckskin tunics which were often decorated with beads
- Fact 9 -
Clothing: Leggings were worn by both men and women to cover the
bare legs and were sometimes decorated with a fringe
- Fact 10 - Clothing for women: Women wore long buckskin dresses (the skin
of a male deer) which were decorated with beads
- Fact 11 - Shoes and footwear:
Moccasins were made of soft leather or deerskin and sewn
together with deer sinew. Moccasins were a soft slip on shoe, or
slipper, consist of a sole and sides made of one piece of
leather, stitched together at the top and were a dark beige
color.
- Fact 12 - This tribe performed the
Sun Dance in the summer
- Fact 13 - Feather War Bonnets: They also wore
beaded, feathered war bonnets. The war bonnet, with its long
trailer of feathers was a symbol of honor and accomplishment
among Plains tribes such as the
Araphaho,
Sioux,
Crow,
Blackfoot,
Cheyenne, and
Plains Cree. War bonnets consisted of a cap or
band decorated with eagle feathers, ermine fur and beadwork.
There were 3 types of feathered war bonnets
- a trailing bonnet with feathers
trailing to the floor
- a straight-up feather headdress
(favored by the Blackfoot tribe)
- a halo war bonnet in which the
feathers fanned out around the face and shoulders
- Fact 14 - Men wore their hair in
three braids with a topknot
- Fact 15 - Hair: Women
wore their hair in two, thick braids
- Fact 16 - Jewelry: Women wore
beaded necklaces
- Fact 17 - Face paint / War Paint: Men wore
bright face paint in times of war and also for religious
ceremonies.
- Fact 18 - Blackfoot weapons: Weapons
included bows and arrows, spears and knives. They also used
shields made of buffalo hides
- Fact 19 - Enemies of the Blackfoot
tribe included the Shoshone, Crow and Cree
- Fact 20 - Before horses were
introduced by the Europeans the Blackfoot used dogs to pull sleds
called travois
- Fact 21 - Food: Men hunted buffalo
and deer. Meat was supplemented by roots, berries and fruits
- Fact 22 - In 1870 200 of the
Blackfoot tribe were killed in the Marias Massacre
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