BLACKFOOT HISTORY 

The Blackfeet belong to a linguistic stock known as the Algonkian. They originally lived in woodlands, but over time settled on the grasslands between the upper basin of the Missouri and the Saskatchewan river and lived by hunting buffalo and other game. By the 18th century they had acquired horses and guns and were able to use these to expand their territory at the expense of weaker neighbouring tribes such as the Shoshonis and Flatheads. Such was the strength of the Blackfeet that they were able to thwart the encroachment by Europeans into their land during the early decades of the 19th century. However, disease, particularly smallpox, and starvation decimated their population in the second half of the same century so that by 1909 there were only 4,365 Blackfeet remaining.
As well as losing large numbers of their population, the Blackfeet lost large tracks of land to the United States government. Following the loss of their lands and way of life most of the people were forced to live on reservations where they lived by farming or raising cattle. This lifestyle, and the impact of Christina missions, has done much to undermine the traditions of the Blackfeet nation. Today the blackfeet continue to live in reservations in Alberta and Montana.