Today, most Blackfeet speak English, however their native language is not forgotten. It is a complex language with many parts and still practiced and taught in schools.
There are a variety of different names the Blackfeet go by which include:
- Ni-tsi-ta-pi-ksi: translates to Real People and includes all of the indigenous peoples of North America
- Sao-kitapiiksi: Is the name for the people who lived on the Plains
- Nitsi-poi-yiksi: Refers to the speakers of the Blackfoot Language
- Nitawahsi: Name for their territory
- (The Blackfoot Gallery Committee, 2001, p. 3)
In the early 1900s, Frances Densmore was a trusted white man who helped record the Blackfeet language (Gibson, 2003, p. 39). Here is a simple chart describing how to say common English words in Blackfeet.
A simple easy word you can learn is “Oki” (pronounced “oh-kee”) which means “Hello!”
Chart received from http://www.native-languages.org/blackfoot_words.htm
| English | Blackfoot words |
| One | Ni’t |
| Two | Náátsi |
| Three | Nioókska |
| Four | Niisó |
| Five | Niisito |
| Man | Nínaa(wa) |
| Woman | Aakíí(wa) |
| Dog | Imitáá(wa) |
| Sun | Ki’sómma |
| Moon | Ko’komíki’somma |
| Water | Aohkíí(yi) |
| White | Áápi or Ksikk |
| Yellow | Otahko |
| Red | Máóhk |
Nitsitapiisinni 