What are the customs and traditions of the blackfoot Indians?

Answer 1

The subject of Blackfoot traditions is far too complex and huge to give in detail here. The following are just a very few aspects of Blackfoot culture and ceremonies:

• Mourning the Dead. It was believed historically that when anyone died they became a ghost and went to live in a region known as the "Sand Hills". There they had lodges (tipis), horses and weapons and they could live and hunt just as living people did. Anything they were buried with also went to the Sand Hills with them, hence the custom of burying spare moccasins, shields, food and other items with the dead person - and often killing a favourite horse soon after a man's death. Women would gash their arms and legs on the death of a relative; the hair of both male and female relatives was cut short - and that hair could not be used for anything.
• A Blackfoot man could have as many wives as he could support (usually only 2, but sometimes 5), but no woman could have more than one husband.
• In order to prevent pregnancy, Blackfoot women often made and wore a kind of charm in the shape of a moth or butterfly, cut from rawhide and decorated with beads. This could be worn at the neck or waist.
• It was the custom among the Blackfoot, Crows, Hidatsa, northern Plains Cree and Omaha to use a four-pole foundation for their lodges (tipis); other tribes used three tied poles - the other poles were simply leaned against this foundation and were not tied together.
• The Blackfoot had many songs used at celebrations and ceremonies.

  In all songs there are few words. In many rituals there are but three or four real words to a song. The Blackfoot laughed at a white man's songs, saying "White men talk all the way through their songs".

• The making and use of a sweat lodge was a man's role and subject to strict ceremony and customs. The doorway must face east and the fire must be outside on the east side. The hot stones must be carried to the door with 2 forked sticks, but inside only straight sticks can be used. If a stone is dropped it must be discarded and not used. Men used an eagle wing or buffalo tail to beat their own skin while taking a sweat bath, while at the same time grunting like buffalo. The door cover must be raised and lowered 4 times (a sacred number); the cold water is poured from a buffalo horn spoon onto the hot stones 7 times (another sacred number)
• Powerful medicine bundles containing sacred objects could be transferred from one person to another on payment of a fee, usually one or more horses. The ownership of a medicine bundle also involved the use of specific songs and face paint by the owner, and sometimes even a specific painted design on his lodge.

Answer 2

blackfoot Indians crafts and art