The Blackfeet believed everything, including places and objects, had a spirit, and individual members would pray for special favors or give thanks. Earl Old Person is the chairman of the Blackfeet Tribal Council. He assisted in the creation of the book Nitsitapiisinni: The story of the Blackfoot People. The following information has come from accounts from Earl Old Person, as well as other Blackfoot Tribal members.
Image 1–Earl Old Person
The Blackfeet do not separate their beliefs from other parts of their life. Their spirituality and beliefs permeate their entire existence (The Blackfoot Gallery Committee, 2001, p. 8).
The name Ihtsi-pai-tapi-yopa is the name the Blackfeet give to the Essence of All Life. It is their creator and made all living things equal. The Blackfeet recognize all plants, animals and rocks as other living beings, who are different from them but also their equals (The Blackfoot Gallery Committee, 2001, p. 8).
“When we pray, we call upon the sun, the moon, the starts, the Milky Way, the earth and everything in it” —Louise Crop Eared Wolf (Kainai)
The following is an ancient story that the Blackfoot tell to explain part of their history and traditions. It is a shortened version that The Blackfoot Gallery Committee, 2001, used in their book Nitsitapiisinni.
Napi: Old Man
“Napi, Old Man, always acted on impulse. He was rude, mean and stingy. He often lied and played dirty tricks. He was always getting into trouble and suffering the consequences of his bad behavior. And yet, he did not act out of malice. He merely overdid things and caused chaos as a result. One of our basic principles is to live a balanced life, and our stories about Napi teach us the importance of this. Napi went to extremes and failed to maintain a balance.” (p. 10).
According to McLean, 1890, one of the Blackfoot ancient stories tells of the time Napi gave his buffalo robe to a big rock and then took it back again (p. 296).
“Napi was traveling one day with Kit-fox, and presented his robe and then departed with Kit-fox. He had not proceeded far upon the way, when, perceiving that is was going to rain, he told his companion to return, and ask the rock to give him back his robe, as he was afraid of being drenched with the rain. The rock refused to give the robe to Kit-fox, and then Napi, becoming angry, said, “That old rock has been there for a long time and never had a robe. It has always been poor. I will go back myself and take away the robe.”
He returned and took the robe by force, and then the rock became very angry, and followed them, determined to punish them. Napioa fled southward toward High River, and the Kit-fox, anxious for his own safety, hid in a hole in the ground. Napioa saw an old buffalo bull, and he called to him for help; but when the buffalo came to his rescue, the rock ran over him and crushed him to death. Then two bears came to help Napioa, and they too were killed by the rock. Two small birds, with very latge strong bills, came to help him, and they attacked the rock, breaking off pieces from it, as they suddenly pounced upon it, and then flew upward. In a short time they killed the rock, and Napioa was saved. The Indians then named the stream “Oqkotokseetuqta, the Rock Creek, or Stony Creek,” but it is called by the white people at the present day, “Sheep Creek.” (McLean, 1890, p. 296).
Image 2: Big Rock Okotoks, Alberta
“All of our being is connected, spiritually and physically, to our homelands.” —Andy Black Water (Kainai)
Sacred Bundles:
These bundles contain items that were given to the Blackfoot by the Spirit Beings of their world. They are used in ceremonies to renew the connections with the Spirit Being and Creator and to ask for help (The Blackfoot Gallery Committee, 2001, p. 8).
Image Citations:
Nitsitapiisinni 