Our people have lived here for thousands of years. Náápi, the creator, has provided us with everything we needed. He created the mountains, forests, rivers and plains. He gave us the river valleys in which to make our camps. He showed us which plants, which roots to eat, and which ones to use to make medicines to cure sickness. He made all the fish in the rivers and the birds that fly and he gave us many animals to hunt: the deer, antelope and the buffalo.

The buffalo is very important to our survival. It provided meat to eat, skins for our tepees, clothes, and bones for tools. Náápi gave us these lands, from the summit of the Rocky Mountains, west of what is now Edmonton, east to the Cypress Hills, south of the mouth of the Yellowstone River on the Missouri and back to the Rocky Mountains.

He told us, “This is the land of the Blackfoot people.”

The three tribes: the Bloods (Kainai), the Peigans (Pikani), Blackfoot (Siksikah) and then our allies, the Sarsi and Gros Ventre were allowed to camp in our territory.

For many years, our forefathers fought and chased away any people who tried to come onto our lands. Then, we let some of our white friends come onto our lands. Soon the buffalo were gone and our lives changed forever.

Effects of the Trade

The effect on our people was terrible. One winter, more than 70 Bloods died from the effects of whiskey, some killed in vicious fights. But many others by freezing after laying down in a drunken stupor, unprotected from the cold. We traded many things: our robes to keep us warm, our horses to chase the buffalo for meat. It was an awful time. Starvation came to our camps in the winter and the white men’s disease returned, killing many in summer.