November 13: Constitution of the Blackfeet Nation (1935)
Prayer Idea
Pray for the Niitsitapi (members of the Blackfoot Confederacy).
History Note
The Niitsitapi have lived in the Great Plains region of North America for many centuries. Other people groups called them “Blackfeet” because of their dark-colored moccasins, and that is how they are commonly known in the United States. (In Canada “Blackfoot” is more common.) There are four bands of Niitsitapi—the North Piegan, the South Piegan, the Blood, and the Siksika.
In the 19th century, the Blackfeet were largely nomadic and depended on hunting bison for their livelihood. As the bison population declined, they made agreements with U.S. and Canadian governments to settle on reservations.
The U.S. government passed the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 to reverse some previous policies related to Native nations and give them more autonomy. On November 13, 1935, members of the Blackfeet Nation voted to adopt a new constitution. The preface reads:
We, the adult members of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, pursuant to the authority vested in us . . . do hereby organize for the common welfare of said tribe and the members thereof, and for such purpose do adopt the following constitution for the government, protection, and common welfare of the said tribe and members thereof.
Today the Blackfeet Nation in Montana has 17,000 members and controls one of the largest reservations in the country. They opened the first bank owned by a Native nation and located on its reservation in 1987. That bank became part of Native American Bank, which now has branches in Montana, Colorado, and Washington.
The three Canadian bands and the U.S. band have formed the Blackfoot Confederacy Tribal Council to promote and facilitate cooperation among all the Niitsitapi.
Entrance to the Blackfeet Nation (2008). Photo by kavram / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
Jesse DesRosier, Blackfoot language teacher at The Piegan Institute, discusses the connection between Blackfoot language and land.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
