Blackfoot names
Blackfoot names.The Siksika, or Blackfeet were known by different names by many tribes
Siksika is a blackfoot native word meaning "black foot," which is what the Blackfoot tribes called themselves collectively, and is also the name of the northernmost division of the Blackfoot Tribe. Although they are correctly called the "Blackfoot" tribe, the US Government erroneously named them the "Blackfeet," so the US branch today are officially the
Blackfeet tribe, while their Canadian counterparts are the Blackfoot tribes. By some they are said to be called Blackfoot or Blackfeet from the discoloration of their moccasins by the ashes of prairie fires, but more probably their moccasins were dyed black.
The Kainai First Nation called themselves Ah-hi'-ta-pe, which means "blood people."
The Blackfoot Confederacy called themselves collectively the Netsepoyè, meaning "people who speak our language."
The Blackfoot also referred to themselves as Sawketakix, meaning "men of the plains."
Here are the names given the Blackfoot by other Indian tribes:
Ayatchinini, Chippewa name.
Ayatchiyiniw, Cree name, signifying "stranger," or "enemy."
Beaux Hommes, so given by Dobbs (1744).
Carmeneh, Crow name.
Choch-Katit, Arikara name.
Ish-te-pit'-e, Crow name.
I tsi sí pi sa, Hidatsa name, signifying "black feet."
Nitsitapii - Siksika - Kainai - Bloods - Pikuni - Piegans - Saxsiiwak
