BLACKFOOT CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS
The Blackfoot First Nations had many beliefs and customs, and most of them were very similar to other tribes.
THE SUN DANCE
The Blackfoot, like many other tribes, had the spectacular Sun Dance. In the summer every year, the main dancer and his clansmen would build the Sun Dance lodge, a building made especially for the occasion. There would be a pole in the middle of the lodge connecting the sky and the earth. A few special people were chosen to dance, fast, pray, meditate, etc. In this ceremony they would show all their love and thanks toward the creator with dances, dramas, and at the end add some self torture. Some ways of doing this was forcing skewers and hooks through the performers backs'!
MARRIAGE AND FRIENDSHIP
It was the mans job to find his marriage partner. When a Blackfoot man wanted to get married to a woman, he first needed to prove he was a good warrior or hunter, otherwise the woman's family would never except him to be the woman's wife. Then they would exchange gifts such as horses and clothes and they would be considered married. The Blackfoot also had strong friendship bonds with one another. To show that someone is their friend, they would put their arms around each others shoulders. Or they would kiss on the cheek.
TOBACCO
Blackfoot First Nations and many other tribes smoked tobacco as a thank you to the creator. Tobacco was the only thing they grew and it was only used for ceremonial purposes.
SHAMANS
People would go to the Blackfoot Shaman if he was not feeling well. They would tell him the problem and the Shaman would dream on what the problem was and how to solve it. Then he would take the necessary actions to cure the person. Medicine was made out of herbs the Shaman found and mixed together.
THE SUN DANCE
The Blackfoot, like many other tribes, had the spectacular Sun Dance. In the summer every year, the main dancer and his clansmen would build the Sun Dance lodge, a building made especially for the occasion. There would be a pole in the middle of the lodge connecting the sky and the earth. A few special people were chosen to dance, fast, pray, meditate, etc. In this ceremony they would show all their love and thanks toward the creator with dances, dramas, and at the end add some self torture. Some ways of doing this was forcing skewers and hooks through the performers backs'!
MARRIAGE AND FRIENDSHIP
It was the mans job to find his marriage partner. When a Blackfoot man wanted to get married to a woman, he first needed to prove he was a good warrior or hunter, otherwise the woman's family would never except him to be the woman's wife. Then they would exchange gifts such as horses and clothes and they would be considered married. The Blackfoot also had strong friendship bonds with one another. To show that someone is their friend, they would put their arms around each others shoulders. Or they would kiss on the cheek.
TOBACCO
Blackfoot First Nations and many other tribes smoked tobacco as a thank you to the creator. Tobacco was the only thing they grew and it was only used for ceremonial purposes.
SHAMANS
People would go to the Blackfoot Shaman if he was not feeling well. They would tell him the problem and the Shaman would dream on what the problem was and how to solve it. Then he would take the necessary actions to cure the person. Medicine was made out of herbs the Shaman found and mixed together.