Blackfoot Indian Tribe
The Blackfoot Indian tribe is made up of four smaller sub-groups, including the North Peigan, the South Peigan, the Kainai Nation and the Siksika Nation. They inhabited an area of North America stretching from Sasketchewan River in Canada to the Missouri River in Montana. Although they were a peaceful group, they were fierce and talented warriors.
The four groups belonged to the same tribe but shared a common sense of identity. They fought together, celebrated together, and shared a religion and language. In essence, they all shared the same culture. The Blackfeet were known for being hunter-gatherers, which is why their tribe encompassed such a large space. This means that they moved where the food was, and gathered food and hunted along the way. Their primary meat source was bison, and they followed the bison as best they could.
During the winter months, members of the Blackfoot Indian tribe divided up into bands in the words. These bands consisted of anywhere from 10 to 20 lodges depending on the size of the camp, and could hold about 100 to 200 members. These bands were led by chiefs, and were small for a reason.
They were easily mobile this way, but large enough to be able to defend themselves in the event of an attacked. Leaders were the wealthy, popular, successful members of the tribe; selection of them was a rather informal affair. The members of these bands were not clearly defined, as people were able to move freely from band to band as they wished. During the summer months, these bands dispersed somewhat and tracked bison, engaging in ceremonies during this same time.
In the early 1800s, the Blackfoot Indian tribe lifestyle was changed dramatically. White settlers and their extreme hunting techniques caused a near extinction of the bison, the virtual life force of the Blackfoot Indian tribe. After that, most members of the tribes moved onto reservations. They felt compelled to sign a treaty with the settlers to ensure their safety, and were placed on reservations around the United States. One of the more significant reservations was in Alberta, Canada.
