- Siksika Nation
The Siksika Nation is a
First Nation in southernAlberta ,Canada . The name "Siksiká" comes from the Blackfoot words "sik" (black) and "iká" (foot), with a connector "s" between the two words. The plural form of "Siksiká" is "Siksikáwa". The "Siksikáwa" are the northernmost of the "Niitsítapi" (Original People). When European explorers travelled west, they most likely met the "Siksiká" first and assumed all "Niitsítapi" of theBlackfoot Confederacy were Blackfoot, which is incorrect. The four "Niitsítapi" nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy are the "Siksiká", Káínaa (Kainai or Blood), "Aapátohsipikáni" (Northern Peigan ), and "Aamsskáápipikani" (South Peigan or Montana Blackfoot). The current population of the Siksika Nation is roughly 4,200 people.Location
Siksika Nation is located one hour's drive east of the city of Calgary, and three kilometres south of the Trans Canada Highway #1. The Administrative and Business district are strategically located adjacent to the Town of Gleichen to accommodate visitor traffic. The Siksika Nation has a total population of approximately 4,200 members.
Government
The Nation is governed by a chief and twelve councillors, all of whom are elected by the Nation's members for two-year terms. The current chief of the Nation is Chief Leroy Good Eagle.
The Siksika Nation is in the process of developing a system of self-government. The new system will supersede The Indian Act, which was legislated into force by the Canadian Government in 1876.
Coat of Arms
In June 1992, "Siksiká" became the first First Nation to register its Symbol as a Coat of Arms with the
Heraldic Authority of Canada . It is listed as Volume One, Number One in the First Nations section. The buffalo in the Coat was chosen as the symbolic animal of the "Siksiká" because it provided their ancestors with food, clothing and shelter; the arrow in seven pieces represents the seven societies in the tribe—"Íítskinaiksi" (Horn), Crow, "Siksinnaki" (Black Police/Soldier), Motoki, Prairie Chicken, Brave Dog, and "Máóto'kiiksi" (Buffalo women); the medicine pipe symbolizes peace and crosses the tomahawk, the weapon of war which was put to rest forever; the circles represent the duration of the treaty signed by Chief Crowfoot on September 22, 1877; as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the water flows.Notable people
*
Crowfoot , a chief of the Siksika Nation and a signer of Treaty 7.*
Robin Big Snake , a professional hockey player formerly of the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, who went on to play for the Rockford IceHogs in the UHL. Big Snake currently plays for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He is a "fighter" or "enforcer", and once posted 423 penalty minutes in only 66 games for the IceHogs.External links
* [http://www.blackfootcountry.com Blackfoot Country - The online meeting place for the Blackfoot People.]
* [http://www.glenbow.org/blackfoot/intro_eng.htm 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.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=62616 Kendra Big Snake's Statistics]
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