The Blackfoot Indians :: essays research papers

The Blackfoot Indians     The wind blows across the lone prairie, causing the golden heads ofgrass to sway in a synchronized motion. On the horizon stands a herd of buffalowith bowed heads silhouetted by the slow sinking sun. In the east stands anIndian war party mounted on horseback, each individual in different multicoloredattire, all with either bows or spears in hand. As they move in for the attack,the mystical scene slowly fades from vision....     This dreamlike scene was once everyday life to the the Statesn Indianbefore they were robbed of all that made their life real. The Indiansoriginally came over to North America via the Bering Strait at a time when theice age caused the gap to freeze over. They came from Asia by following herdsand in search of more than. During their travels, some decided to nail and settledown, hence the many different tribes. The Blackfoot occupied the region ofmodern day Alberta in Canada, and Montana in th e U.S. The Blackfoot consistedof three main tribes the Northern Blackfoot(Siksika), the Piegan(Pikuni), andthe Blood(Kainah). The tribes differed light in their speech, but werepolitically independent. Blackfoot population varied, but was less affected bythe arrival of the white man than some tribes due to their location. "In 1855, in that respect were approximately 2,400 Northern Blackfoot, 2,000 Blood, and 3,200 Piegan.The total population of Blackfoot varied as follows 15,000(1780), 9,000(1801),7,600(1855), and 4,600(1932)" ( ). The decline of population wasmost likely due to the white mans diseases and the annihilation of the buffalo.In 1781, the Blackfoot had their initial serious attack of smallpox. An epidemicof smallpox again occurred in 1838, 1845 1857, and 1864. In the winter of 1864,the tribe was struck with measles and about 780 died. In the winter of 1883 to1884, more than 1/4 the Piegan population died of starvation (600). This wasmainly the result of officia l stupidity and the disappearance of the buffalo.     The Blackfoot were typically large-game hunters and were mainlydependant on the buffalo for their diet, clothing, and receptacles. They besideshunted such animals as the elk, deer, and antelope. There were four mainmethods of hunting, one of which was the "surround". This method required theuse of horses and was done by surrounding the herd, later on which they were shotdown. Another method was accomplished by driving the game down a cliff, inwhich the fall would injure the animal enough to obstruct their escape. A thirdmethod used was impounding, which resembled modern day cow herding. The huntingparty would build fences into which they would herd the animals.