Blackfeet Nation

Alternate Names: Blackfeet, Blackfoot and Blackfoot Nation; Pikuni Linguistic group: Algonquian

Groups: Siksika or North Blackfeet; Kainah or Bloods and the Piegan

History
Originally the Blackfeet were living in the Saskatchewan River Valley of Saskatchewan, Canada. By 1850 the tribe had moved to the Rocky Mountains and Missouri River areas.

Smallpox epidemics depopulated the tribe through the 1800's, especially during years 1836, 1845, 1857, 1869 and 1870 when the disease was most virulent.

Intertribal conflict occurred when the Blackfeet raided neighboring tribes to acquire horses

In the 1855 Treaty the Blackfeet territory became as a common hunting grounds for: Piegans, Gros Ventres, Blackfeet, Nez Perces, Flathead, and Bloods.

Advancement by settlers to the west created conflict and military actions were taken. One such action occurred in 1870 when a military unit under the direction of Colonel E. M. Baker attacked the winter camp of the Blackfeet on the Marias River, killing 170 men, women, and children and taking 140 prisoners.

In 1888 the Blackfeet were gathered to the Blackfeet Reservation.

Brief Timeline

 * 1800's: Living in Canada
 * 1836, 1845, 1857, 1869-70: Smallpox epidemics
 * Prior to 1850: moved west and south to the Rocky Mountains and the Missouri River areas
 * They raided the camps of the Crow, Assiniboin, Cree, Kutenai, Kalispel (or Pend d'Oreille) and Flathead in search of horses
 * 1855: Treaty
 * 1865: Treaty, at Fort Sully
 * 1870: Colonel E. M. Baker attacked the Blackfeet winter camp on the Marias River in Montana, killing 173 men, women and children and taking more that 140 prisoners.
 * 1877: ceded land in Canada
 * 1880's: settled on reservation in the United States and Canada
 * 1886: ceded land
 * 1888: gathered to Blackfeet Reservation
 * 1895: ceded land

Reservations
The primary residence of the Blackfeet Tribe is the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

Portions of the tribe also reside on three reserves in the Province of Alberta in Canada.

Additional References to the History of the Tribe

 * Frederick Webb Hodge, in his Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, gave a more complete history of the Blackfeet tribe, with estimations of the population of the tribe at various time periods.
 * For additional history of the tribe, read more....

Tribal Headquarters
Blackfeet Nation 1 Agency Square Browning, MT 59417 Phone: 406.338.7521 Fax: 406.338.7530

Records
Agencies

The agencies which had jurisdiction over a major portion of the Blackfeet in the United States were:


 * Blackfeet Agency, 1890-
 * Blood Agency, 1890-1896, 1907-1913
 * Piegan Agency, 1890-1913
 * Rocky Boy's Agency, 1907-1913

Correspondence and Census

Treaties


 * September 17, 1851, referred to in treaty, at Fort Laramie
 * 1855 October 17,
 * 1865 October 19, at Fort Sully
 * April 29, 1868, at Fort Laramie,

Vital Records


 * Blackfeet Agency, M595, Births and Deaths 1924-1932, FHL Film: 573855 and 573856; 1916-1938, FHL film: 573857

Important Web Sites

 * Official Web Site of the Blackfeet Indians of Montana
 * History of the Blackfeet from Frederick Webb Hodge's Indians of North America...
 * Constitution and By-laws for the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana, adopted in 1935 and subsequently amended.
 * State Office of Indian Affairs website regarding the Blackfeet Indians
 * Blackfoot Indians Wikipedia