Siksika Nation
Encyclopedia
The Siksika Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta
, 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), all of whom speak dialects of Blackfoot, an Algonquian
-language.
When European explorers travelled west, they most likely met the Siksiká first and assumed all Niitsítapi of the Blackfoot 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 approximate population of the Siksika Nation, as of 2009, is 6,000 people.
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.
over events dating back to 1910. The government sought the cession of approximately 46,621.4 hectares (115,200 acres) of land within the Siksika Indian Reserve for sale by the federal government to incoming settlers. The cession included 5,067.6 hectares (12,522.6 acres) of reserve lands to be transferred to the Canadian Pacific Railway
, for construction of the Bassano Dam. The band members were not adequately informed about this portion and lost the use of the surface rights of the land. The Nation claims the transfer was done illegally. In 1980, the government admitted that no proof existed that Canadian Pacific had acquired the rights to the land for the dam.
The Nation entered into negotiations with the Canadian government to settle the land claim. In 1991, the Siksika nation signed a $4.9m agreement with the government for compensation for mineral rights lost due to construction of the dam. In 2010, the Nation finally reached agreement with the governments of Canada and Alberta to settle the land claims. The band would receive $50 million and new water rights. The money will be put in a trust to benefit the Nation for purposes such as education and welfare.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The name Siksiká comes from the Blackfoot
Blackfoot language
Blackfoot, also known as Siksika , Pikanii, and Blackfeet, is the Algonquian language spoken by the Blackfoot tribes of Native Americans, who currently live in the northwestern plains of North America...
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), all of whom speak dialects of Blackfoot, an Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
-language.
When European explorers travelled west, they most likely met the Siksiká first and assumed all Niitsítapi of the Blackfoot Confederacy were Blackfoot, which is incorrect. The four Niitsítapi nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy are the Siksiká, Káínaa (Kainai
Kainai Nation
The Kainai Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada with a population of 7,437 members in 2005, and had a population of 9,035 members as of 9 February 2008...
or Blood), Aapátohsipikáni (Northern Peigan
Northern Peigan
The Northern Peigans or Aapátohsipikáni are a First Nation, part of the Niitsítapi . Known as Piikáni, "Pekuni" or Aapátohsipikáni , they are very closely related to the other members of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Aamsskáápipikani , Káínaa or...
), and Aamsskáápipikani (South Peigan or Montana Blackfoot). The approximate population of the Siksika Nation, as of 2009, is 6,000 people.
Location
The Siksika Nation reserve, Siksika 146Siksika 146
Siksika 146 is an Indian reserve in Alberta. It is located southeast of Calgary. It is at an elevation of . The reserve is home to the Blackfoot Crossing historical park.-References:...
is located one hour's drive east of the city of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, and three kilometres south of the Trans Canada Highway #1. The administrative and business district are strategically located adjacent to the Town of Gleichen
Gleichen, Alberta
Gleichen is a hamlet in southeast Alberta, Canada within Wheatland County. It is located adjacent to the Siksika Nation at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 547, approximately southeast of Strathmore.- History :...
to accommodate visitor traffic.
Land claims
The Siksika Nation has had a longstanding land claim dispute with the Government of CanadaGovernment of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
over events dating back to 1910. The government sought the cession of approximately 46,621.4 hectares (115,200 acres) of land within the Siksika Indian Reserve for sale by the federal government to incoming settlers. The cession included 5,067.6 hectares (12,522.6 acres) of reserve lands to be transferred to the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, for construction of the Bassano Dam. The band members were not adequately informed about this portion and lost the use of the surface rights of the land. The Nation claims the transfer was done illegally. In 1980, the government admitted that no proof existed that Canadian Pacific had acquired the rights to the land for the dam.
The Nation entered into negotiations with the Canadian government to settle the land claim. In 1991, the Siksika nation signed a $4.9m agreement with the government for compensation for mineral rights lost due to construction of the dam. In 2010, the Nation finally reached agreement with the governments of Canada and Alberta to settle the land claims. The band would receive $50 million and new water rights. The money will be put in a trust to benefit the Nation for purposes such as education and welfare.
Notable people
- CrowfootCrowfootCrowfoot or Isapo-Muxika was a chief of the Siksika First Nation. His parents, Istowun-eh'pata and Axkahp-say-pi , were Kainai. His brother Iron Shield became Chief Bull...
, chief of the Siksika Nation (c. 1885) and a signer of Treaty 7Treaty 7Treaty 7 was an agreement between Queen Victoria and several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes in what is today the southern portion of Alberta. It was concluded on September 22, 1877. The agreement was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, at the present-day Siksika Nation...
. - Aatsista-MahkanAatsista-MahkanAatsista-Mahkan or Running rabbit was a chief of the Siksika First Nation. He was the son of Akamukai , chief of the Biters band, and following the death of his father in 1871, Aatsista-Mahkan took control of the band...
(Running Rabbit), portrayed in photo by Edward S. CurtisEdward S. CurtisEdward Sheriff Curtis was a photographer of the American West and of Native American peoples.-Early life:... - Robin Big SnakeRobin Big Snake-Career:Big Snake started his hockey career in juniors with the Vancouver Giants in 2001. He played 19 games with the Giants before being traded to the Moose Jaw Warriors during the 2002-03 season. At the start of the 2003-04 season, Big Snake was traded from Moose Jaw to the Portland Winter Hawks...
, former professional hockey player, most recently with the Muskegon LumberjacksMuskegon LumberjacksThe Muskegon Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Muskegon, Michigan.-Facts:-Season-by-Season record:Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in...
during the 2009-10 International Hockey League season. - Gerald McMasterGerald McMasterGerald R. McMaster is a Plains Cree and Blackfoot curator, artist, and author. He is enrolled in the Siksika First Nation. Currently he lives in Toronto, Canada and is curator of Canadian art at the Art Gallery of Ontario....
, artist, curator, and author