- Kainai Nation
The Kainai Nation (or Káínawa, or Blood Tribe) is a First Nation in southern
Alberta ,Canada with a population of 7,437 members in 2005, [ [http://www.municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/ms/pdf/2005pop.pdf Alberta Municipal Affairs] - 2005 Official Population list - Indian Registered Population. December 2005. Retrieved on 24 September 2006.] and had a population of 9,035 members as of9 February 2008 .Fact|date=April 2008 They are part of the "Niitsítapi" (Blackfoot Confederacy of the] Original People). [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02603a.htm Blood Indians] -Catholic Encyclopedia article]"Akáínaa" translates directly to "Many Chief" (from "aká" - "many" and "nínaa" - "chief") while "Káína" translates directly to "Many Chief people." The common English name for the tribe is the "Blood tribe."
At the time treaties such as
Treaty 7 were signed, the Kainai were situated on the Oldman, Belly, and St. Mary rivers west ofLethbridge ,Alberta . The Kainai reserveBlood 148 is currently the largest inCanada with 3,852 inhabitants [ [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01ab/PlaceSearchForm1.cfm Statistics Canada] - 2001 Census Aboriginal Population Profile] on 1,414.03km² and is located approximately 200 kilometres south of Calgary.Government
The Kainai Nation is governed by an elected council of twelve to fifteen, with one chief. The term of office is four years. Historical chiefs of the Kainai are below:
* Last of the Hereditary Chiefs Traditional Chief
Jim Shot Both Sides (1956-1980)
* ChiefRoy Fox (1980-1996)
* ChiefChris Shade (1996-2004)
* ChiefCharles Weasel Head (2004-present)Notable people
*
Hate Woman
*Jerry Potts References
External links
* [http://www.kainaistudies.com/ Kainai Studies - Post secondary educational entity dedicated to Blackfoot teachings.]
* [http://www.glenbow.org/blackfoot/ Introduction to photo essay from 'Nitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life' museum exhibit]
* [http://www.head-smashed-in.com/frmblack02.html Concise description of the Blackfoot tribes]
* [http://www.bloodtribe.org Blood Tribe Information Web]
* [http://www.nfb.ca/enclasse/doclens/visau/index.php?mode=view&filmId=10608&language=english&sort=title# Watch "Circle of the Sun", a 1961 documentary on the Blood Tribe]
* [http://www.albertasource.ca/treaty7/traditional/kainai_fox.html Brief biography of former chief Roy Fox.]
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