World of the Blackfoot

As discussed previously, the Blackfoot were initially Nomadic tribes. They traveled often throughout the year, stopping the longest at their Winter camps. They were self sustaining people who lived off of the land as hunter/gatherers. The winters were a struggle of hunting as much as they could and they resorted to dried meat, roots, and pemmican when fresh game was not available. Spring brought the availability for the Blackfoot to repair their riding equipment, make new tepee poles, and make clothing. The women would gather the fresh Spring greens. Summer brings the time of the annual tribal buffalo hunts. These hunts provide lots of fresh meat, buffalo hides to make their tepees and clothing, and even the tongues which are used in religious ceremonies called the Sun Dance. The Sun Dance brings them into their fall buffalo hunts which are focused around stocking up buffalo parts to get them through the upcoming Winter where they would start the routine over again.


              Blackfoot "Sundance ceremony"
                        Source: Web

One of the key factors of the Blackfoot survival is their social structure. The Blackfoot bands were composed of just extended families and did not really have a formal organization with the exception of a recognized leader. The leader had the responsibility of maintaining peace, ending arguments, and making the final decisions for the people in the group. The bands would go by a name based upon a significant event they experienced or the people that it composed of (such as Many Fat Horses or All Short People). The size of these bands were the key to their survival and if they began to grow too large, they would split into two smaller bands. By maintaining small bands, it was easier to ensure everyone in the group was taken care of.

References:
http://books.google.com/books?id=w08QJwpzJM4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=blackfoot+indian+history&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XfVPU5y1BfKpsQSpm4GwBg&ved=0CEYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=blackfoot%20indian%20history&f=true
http://books.google.com/books?id=EOcNAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=blackfoot+history&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1RphU-bjLOmjsQSDo4GgAw&ved=0CGkQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=blackfoot%20history&f=true