ARTS AND CRAFTS

 Blackfoot women would usually make and design jewelry and clothing in the winter when they had more time on their hands are known for their fine quill embroidery and beadwork.

King Kunga was a full-time professional Blackfeet artist from Montana whose art is seen internationally. He worked in watercolors, oils, bronze, steel, silver and gold. King’s art reflected his dedication to Native American people and their spirituality. King earned a bachelor degree of fine arts at the University of Montana, Missoula, studying mainly painting and sculpture.

Mari King

The Blackfeet artist Mari King was born in Seattle and lives now on the Blackfeet reservation in East Glacier Park. Mari received an Associates of Science degree in Human Services, and a Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice, followed by a Master of Human Services degree as a Counseling Psychologist from the University of Montana in Great Falls. Her formal education includes many hours spent in drawing, oil painting, photography, sculpting and silkscreen. Her art is entered into juried art shows, on previous display at the Indian Art Museum in Santa Fe, NM, the Seattle Indian Center, the Museum of the Plains Indian and the Blackfeet Community College in Browning. Mari paints in oil, acrylic and pastel.

                                               Shelter

•The Blackfoot lived in buffalo-hide houses called tipis (or teepees).
•The teepee’s were usually 14ft in diameter and weighed 100 lbs.
•The teepee’s were sometimes painted with designs that have religious significance .
•Since the black foot moved frequently to follow the buffalo herds, a teepee was carefully designed to setup and breakdown quickly, a job primarily for women.
•An entire Blackfoot village could be packed up and moved within an hour.
•Prairie breezes blowing under the teepee covering were deflected by the back wall, this created and “up draft” over the centrally located cooking and heating fire.
•Back walls were often painted with geometric designs to differentiate the different families

FOOD

The Blackfoot staple food was buffalo. They developed a complex society based upon the buffalo. >meat = food. Skin=clothing, tepee covers. Bones= needles, utensils. Horns= spoons. Rawhide= bags.In addition to buffalo meat, the Blackfoot Indians also ate small game like squirrels, nuts and berries.  

TRAVELING 

The tribe heavily relied on a piece of equipment called the travois for the movement of their belongings. Especially to move the buffalos after they have been captured and killed. Before horses they used dogs to pull there belongings.

BLACKFOOT HUNTING TRADITIONS

 Blackfoot men usually hunted the buffalo by driving them off cliffs or stalking them with bow and arrow. As they acquired horses, the Blackfoot tribe began to pursue the buffalo by moving their camp to follow the buffalo migration habits.

BLACKFOOT WEAPONS AND TOOLS

Arrow heads

Arrowheads are found in many sizes, shapes, materials and colors’ based on the culture. The typical arrowhead is strong and not brittle so that it can puncture the targets skin.

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knife

The knife was a very useful tool used for cutting meat, hides, and food.  It could also be a weapon for close range fights.  A knife was a weapon, tool and eating and cooking utensil all in one.  An Indian could use it to put up dwelling, mend moccasins and clothing, make arrows, skin animals, clean fish, build traps, scrape hides and much more.

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maul

The maul was made from river rocks.  It was grooved for hafting onto a handle and used like an ax.  It is different from an ax, because it has a blunt or rounded end. The round end inflicts a blunt hit on the target to knock it out or put it in a daze long enough to safely capture the prey.

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Shaft Straightener

A shaft straightener is used to straighten the shaft of the arrow. It can be used to straighten out the shaft of the arrow which is made out of wild cherry, birch, ash, and chokecherry or willow trees, Which is a very durable wood so that the shafts won’t break as easy.

BLACKFOOT CLOTHING 

Blackfoot Indian clothing was made from material that was easily available, mostly deer skin and antelope hide. Women wore long deer skin dresses with fringes. They also made all the clothes in the tribe. They decorated all the clothes beautifully with beads, porcupine quills and feathers. They also wore bracelets and earrings made from seashells. Occasionally, they used different metals to make jewelry. Beads were also worn around their necks or in their hair.
The Blackfoot Indian clothing for men consisted of leggings that were worn up to the hips. Their footwear was moccasins and they also wore loin cloths. Men secured a belt around their hips which held up their leggings. They wore robes made from buffalo hide most of the time, and occasionally they would wear buckskin shirts. Men who had distinguished themselves as brave warriors would wear a necklace of grizzly bear claws.
Blackfoot Indian clothing for children, especially the boys, resembled the adults in that the boys would be dressed in leggings and a loin cloth with moccasins on their feet. Sometimes they also sported a plain shirt. They wrapped themselves in buffalo robes to keep warm. Often, they covered their heads with it to protect against severe cold weather.