"> Siksikaitsitapi

Siksikaitsitapi: Stories of the Blackfoot People        

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Authors, pictured left to right: Tim Fox, Crystal Many Fingers, Marlene Yellow Horn, Payne Many Guns, Sheena Potts. Absent, Latasha Calf Robe, DerRic Starlight

Blackfoot authors tell stories of their times

"Children Everywhere can learn through Blackfoot storytelling." —Beverley Hungry Wolf, author of Ways of My Grandmother

In Siksikaitsitapi: Stories of the Blackfoot People, seven authors share their stories that come from both from legend and from their personal experiences, with many of the stories in both Blackfoot and English languages. The book is illustrated with beautiful full-colour pictures and photos which help convey these stories from Blackfoot traditional and contemporary traditions and cultures.The Blackfoot Confederacy is made up of the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, and Amskapi Piikuni Nations of Southern Alberta and Montana.

Payne Many Guns' story captures the ways the Blackfoot People live in harmony with the land, animals, and stars in their traditional lands. Crystal Many Fingers tells a delightful, modern story about animals, their gifts, and why they were put on Earth.  Sheena Potts' story beautifully illustrates the many ways love is alive in Blackfoot traditions and culture. Tim Fox tells a humerous story about mice who are having a celebration that the raven Napi and a group of dogs want to join. Marlene Yellow Horn shares her personal story of the teachings she learned as a child about the Elders' traditional and sacred knowledge. DerRic Starlight tells the tale of Morning Star's diverse and loving family life. Foreword is by Alayna Many Guns.

>> Excerpts from the Book | Spoken Blackfoot from the Book

What they say

These stories were originally produced by the Calgary Public Library as part of a Treaty 7 First Nations Language Series.


“There’s a lot of stuff in our language that can’t really be translated into English, so when we know our language we have a better understanding of who we are and we understand the land better. ”— Payne Many Guns, from an interview with the CBC.

"This book provides us with an opportunity to reclaim our truths. In the past, sitting with an Elder and listening to traditional stories of the stars, the animals, Napi, and our purpose was a great gift. Today, this is more important than ever." —Alayna Many Guns, from the foreword

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