Kainai Nation facts for kids
Shield of the Kainai Nation
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| People | Blackfoot |
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| Treaty | Treaty 7 |
| Headquarters | Standoff |
| Province | Alberta |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Blood 148 |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 1362.639 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 8,751 |
| Off reserve | 3,948 |
| Total population | 12,699 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Roy Fox |
| Council |
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| Website | |
| bloodtribe.org | |
The Kainai Nation (or Káínawa, or Blood Tribe) (Blackfoot: Káínaa) is a First Nations band government in southern Alberta, Canada, with a population of 12,800 members in 2015, up from 11,791 in December 2013.
Akáínaa translates directly to "Many Chief" (from aká – "many" and nínaa – "chief") while Káína translates directly to "Many Chief people." The enemy Plains Cree called the Kainai Miko-Ew – "stained with blood", i.e. "the bloodthirsty, cruel", therefore, the common English name for the tribe is the "Blood tribe."
The Kainai speak a language of the Blackfoot linguistic group; their dialect is closely related to those of the Siksika and Piikani. They are one of three nations comprising the Blackfoot Confederacy.
At the time treaties such as Treaty 7 were signed, the Kainai were situated on the Oldman, Belly, and St. Mary rivers west of Lethbridge, Alberta. The Kainai reserve Blood 148 is currently the largest in Canada with 4,570 inhabitants on 1,414.03 km² (545 sq. mi.) and is located approximately 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Calgary.
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Economy
The Kainai Nation is engaged in diverse enterprises and they trade with domestic and international partners. Ammolite mining for example provides a rare highly demanded gem mineral to Asia for Feng Shui. Ammolite is currently known only to be found in the Bearpaw Formation as unique conditions of prehistoric times were optimal for the fossilization of marine life into Ammolite. Over the years, mining operations have uncovered several oceanic dinosaur fossils which have been stored for study at the Royal Tyrrell Museum; however, they belong to the Kainai Nation.(Lawrynuik)
Specific claims
The Kainai Nation filed many specific claims with the federal government. In 2017, a federal court ruled that the Crown had underestimated the band's population, which resulted in the band's reserve being smaller than it should have been. As such, the Blood Tribe reserve could be expanded by 421 square kilometres (163 sq mi), but the community could seek a cash-in-lieu-of-land settlement for this claim instead.
In July 2019, the Kainai Nation settled a claim over Crown mismanagement of the band's ranching assets. The community received a $150 million cash settlement. Chief Roy Fox said that $123 million of this settlement will be used to develop "housing, capital works, a new administration building and a new skating rink".
Government
Band council
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)
- Chief Chris Shade (1996–2004)
- Chief Charles Weasel Head (2004–2016)
- Chief Roy Fox (Makiinimaa – Curlew) (2016–Present)
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Blood 148
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| Blood Indian Reserve No. 148 | |||
James Gladstone on his combine harvester
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Location in Alberta
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| First Nation | Kainai Nation | ||
| Country | Canada | ||
| Province | Alberta | ||
| Municipal district | Cardston | ||
| Headquarters | Stand Off | ||
| Government | |||
| • Body | Blood Tribe Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1,413.87 km2 (545.90 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 4,572 | ||
| Time zone | UTC−7 (MST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (MDT) | ||
| Highways | Highway 2 | ||
Blood 148 is a First Nations reserve in Alberta, Canada. It is inhabited by the Blood (Kainai) First Nation and was established under the provisions of Treaty 7. This reserve is managed from the community of Stand Off on its northwest border and encompasses the majority of lands bounded by the cities of Fort MacLeod, Lethbridge and Cardston. It is traversed by Alberta Highway 2, Highway 5, and Highway 509. The St Mary River and the Belly River are major rivers supplying and draining the lands.
At 1,413.87 km2 (545.90 sq mi), this is the largest reserve in Canada, and the third most populous after Six Nations and Akwesasne. On June 12, 2019, federal courts ruled that, according to the land entitlement provisions of Treaty 7, the Blood Tribe was entitled to a reserve equal to 710 square miles (1,800 km2) in area, an increase of 164.1 square miles (425 km2) over the existing lands. The judgement did not address remedy nor costs. It is located between the Cities of Fort MacLeod and Lethbridge and the Town of Cardston, bordering the Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 to the northwest, the Lethbridge County to the northeast and Cardston County to the east, south and southwest.
Demographics
In 2006, Blood 148 had a population of 4,177 living in 1,250 dwellings, an 8.4% increase from 2001. The Alberta Government lists the Blood 148 population at 4,713 in 2018. Prior to the June 12, 2019 award the Indian reserve land area was 1,413.87 km2 (545.90 sq mi), with a population density of 3.0/km2 (7.8/sq mi).
As of December 2013, the Blood 435 band, based on reserves 148 and 148A, had a total registered population of 11,791 per AANDC sources.
Police force
In pre-treaty times, the iikunuhkahtsi were a society responsible for the punishment of misdeeds. The Blood reserve is currently policed by the Blood Tribe Police, with 31 officers in 2015.
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Stu-mick-o-súcks, Buffalo Bull's Back Fat, Head Chief, Blood Tribe, 1832 by George Catlin
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Chief of the Blood Indians, War chief of the Piekann Indians and Koutani Indians by Karl Bodmer
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Stsimaki (Reluctant-to-be-woman) - Blood by Edward S. Curtis
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Apio-mita White Dog - Blood
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Niukskai-Stamik Three Bulls - Blood
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Kaistosinikyi Kill-For-Nothing - Blood
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Atso Tohkomi Call-on-All-Sides - Blood
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Astanighkyi Come-Singing - Blood
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Astanighkyi Come-Singing - Blood
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Makoyepuk Wolf-Child - Blood
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Makoyepuk Wolf-Child - Blood
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A Blood horseman
Notable people
- Cherish Violet Blood - stage and film actress
- Red Crow - 1887 Treaty Number Seven Chief
- Byron Chief-Moon - performer and choreographer
- Eugene Creighton (Owns Many Horses)
- Eugene Brave Rock - actor and stunt man
- Faye HeavyShield - artist
- Marie Smallface Marule - academic administrator, activist, and educator
- Natawista Iksina (1825-1893) - interpreter and diplomat
- Jerry Potts
- Pete Standing Alone
- Seen from afar (1810-1869) - PEENAQUIM (Pe-na-koam, Penukwiim, translated as seen from afar, far seer, far off in sight, and far off dawn; also known as Onis tay say nah que im, Calf Rising in Sight, and Bull Collar), chief of the Blood tribe of the Blackfoot nation; b. c. 1810, probably in what is now southern Alberta, son of Two Suns; d. 1869 near the present city of Lethbridge, ALB
- Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers - Kainai and Sámi actress, producer, filmmaker and curatorial assistant
- Tom Three Persons - Rodeo athlete and rancher, best known for winning the saddle bronc competition at the inaugural Calgary Stampede in 1912
In popular culture
In 1960, the Kainai and their sacred Sun Dance were featured in the National Film Board of Canada documentary Circle of the Sun. Tribal leaders had been concerned that the Sun Dance might be dying out, and had permitted filming as a visual record.
In 2006, community leader Rick Tailfeathers contributed a small ammolite carving of a buffalo skull to the Six String Nation project. The object was permanently mounted on the interior of Voyageur, the guitar at the heart of the project. Following a presentation about the project in September 2014 at Tatsikiisaapo'p Middle School, project creator Jowi Taylor was presented with a braid of sweetgrass by school principal Ramona Big Head. The braid resides in the headstock area in the bed of the guitar case.
On National Aboriginal Day in 2011, the NFB released the Pete Standing Alone trilogy, which includes Circle of the Sun, Standing Alone and a 2010 film, Round Up, documenting 50 years of the Kainai Nation as well as the life of elder Pete Standing Alone.
Historical newspapers
- The Kainai News was one of Canada's first aboriginal newspapers and instrumental in the history of aboriginal journalism in Canada. It was published in southern Alberta by the Blood Indian Tribe and later by Indian News Media. Content focused on a range of local issues within the reserve as well as national issues such as the Indian Act, the Whitepaper and Bill C-31. Of particular significance are editorial cartoons by Everett Soop which were a regular feature of the newspaper. Its first editor way Caen Bly, granddaughter of Senator James Gladstone.
- The Sun Dance Echo was a predecessor to the Kainai News. It was edited by Reggie Black Plume and occasionally contained articles by Hugh Dempsey.
Communities
The Kainai nation communities include:
- Bullhorn
- Fish Creek
- Ft Whoop Up
- Levern
- Moses Lake
- Old Agency
- Standoff
