Moraine Lake on Treaty 7 land. The Blackfoot people are traditional land keepers, including the territory of Treaty 7, which holds the beauty of the stories and history of the Rocky Mountains.

Written by Lauren-Rose Stunell

Oki!

Oki (pronounced “oh-kee”) means “greetings” or “welcome” in Siksikáí’powahsin, commonly known as the Blackfoot language. This language is particularly close to my heart since I am a settler on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Peoples in Moh’kinstsis, or Calgary. Moh’kinstsis in Blackfoot translates to “elbow” because Calgary is where the Elbow River bends to meet the Bow River.

I have been welcomed here by the original keepers of the land whose traditions, culture, and language have taught me not only how to be a better educator but also how to listen, learn, and understand the beauty of the land on which we teach. I work with my students every day to learn new words and phrases in Blackfoot to honour those who have shared their land with us. I hope you find the teacher tool below a good way to honour the Blackfoot people and their language in your classrooms across Turtle Island.

Unique Traditions, Heritage, Wisdom, and Teachings

Blackfoot is a complex language with three dialects: Kainai, Piikani, and Siksikà. Each of these dialects represents the geographical region in which they are situated. What I have had the honour of understanding from Blackfoot Elders, knowledge keepers, and my Blackfoot students is that this language is more than just a part of their history. The language has been passed down through generations and preserves thousands of years of traditions, heritage, wisdom, and teachings that are unique to each family and nation.

Stories from the Land

I have deep respect for the Blackfoot language and admire its beauty and the connections it makes with the land and stories from the land. The language leaves space for a respect for nature, animals, and of course the Blackfoot people themselves.

When we think of the moments this language has faced throughout history, it inspires us to want to learn more about it. Blackfoot was the language of the people who signed Treaty 7 on 22 September 1877. It is a language that was stolen from children taken into the residential school system. It is the language of the original stories passed down from parent to child to grandchild into a modern world where it still holds resiliency. Blackfoot is a language much like other Indigenous languages, holding deep connections to life and to history. It deserves our recognition.

Creating an Interactive Blackfoot Word Wall

Lesson Description

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to understand the importance of acknowledging the language, land, and stories of the original keepers of the land on which they live and learn. They will become familiar with the Blackfoot people and their rich traditions. Students and teachers will work together to learn new words in Blackfoot and understand the history behind the language through which oral traditions and stories were passed down through generations. It is my hope that after completing this activity, students and educators across Turtle Island will have a new appreciation for the contributions and the vast culture and knowledge of the Blackfoot peoples who share their land with respect and love.

My teaching team did this activity with our grade sixes this year and found the results of their work inspiring. At the end of the lesson, students create posters that highlight new words in Blackfoot, in their home language, in the target language, and in any further additional languages. This is one of my favourite activities to honour Indigenous languages.

Content

Teachers can choose to deliver the lesson in a whole-group setting, in small groups, or individually. The poster activity can be completed by hand, using art supplies, or using digital technologies such as Canva.

Introduction

1. As with most Indigenous languages, it is important to introduce the topic with a land acknowledgment from the city or territory in which you teach. If you are unsure of which Indigenous land you reside in, this website can be used with your students to discover the land together. Introducing students to land acknowledgments can help them develop respect and understanding of their importance.
2. This video from the Calgary Public Library shows a unique land acknowledgment for Treaty 7. It also introduces students to new words in Blackfoot.
3. Introduce the Blackfoot people and a brief history of their culture through videos such “Who are the Blackfoot?” by Two-Minute History. The Blackfoot people are also known as the Niitsitapi or Siksika.

Exploration

4. This lesson uses the Blackfoot Language Workbook. You may choose to focus on one topic for younger grades such as colours, numbers, or sounds. For older grades you can direct students to the entire Blackfoot Language Workbook and give them the option to choose their own topics.
5. Have students become familiar with a specific word in Blackfoot such as their favourite colour, animal, or greeting.

Application

6. Direct students to create a poster that includes their selected Blackfoot word, a picture of what the word means, and the word in French, English, Spanish, Arabic . . . or whichever languages you (or they) may choose.
7. Students should each create a letter-sized poster that can be displayed on a wall in your school or classroom to highlight the Blackfoot language. This space will bring an appreciation of the Blackfoot language to passersby and encourage other students to learn these words to honour the language.
8. Host a showcase of your students’ work and ask other classes to engage with your students about their work in a gallery walk.

Lesson Extension

Adult learners can be encouraged to start using Blackfoot words in their everyday conversation as a way of honouring the language and responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action on Indigenous languages — especially call #13, “We call upon the federal government to acknowledge that Aboriginal rights include Aboriginal language rights.”

When the lesson is completed for the Blackfoot language, the activity can be extended to honour other Indigenous languages spoken in Canada (such as Anishinaabemowin, Inuktut, Michif, or Cree) and in other parts of the world (such as Māori in New Zealand or Guaraní or Quechua in South America).