Siksika
From NativeWiki
The Siksika Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada. The word Siksika translates into Black Foot. The Siksika are the northernmost of the Nitsitapii (Real People). When European explorers travelled west, they most likely met the Siksika first and assumed all Nitsitapi were Blackfoot, which is incorrect. The four Nitsitapi nations are Siksika, Ahkainah (Kainai or Blood), North Piikuni (Northern Peigan), and South Piikuni (Montana Blackfeet). A notable member of the Siksika was Crowfoot, a chief of the Siksika Nation and a signer of Treaty 7. The current population of the Nation is roughly 4,200 people.
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 Adrian Stimson Sr..
A relatively famous person from the Siksika Nation is Robin Big Snake, a professional hockey player. Formerly of the OHL's Owen Sound Attack, he went on to play for the Rockford IceHogs in the UHL, and 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.
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 People Siksika has a total population of approximately 4,200 members. Siksika are a part of the Blackfoot Confederacy, which also consists of the Piikani and Kainaiwa of southern Alberta and the Blackfeet in the State of Montana. A chief and twelve councillors, members elect all of whom for two-year terms govern the Siksika Nation. The current chief of the Siksika Nation is Adrian Stimson. The Siksika Nation is in the process of developing a framework for self-government, which will define, and control the Nation's own destiny, and remove it from jurisdiction of The Indian Act, which was legislated into force by the Canadian Government in 1876. Siksika in our language means "Blackfoot". In June 1992, Siksika became the 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 Siksika because it provided our ancestors with food, clothing and shelter; the arrow in seven pieces represents the seven societies in the tribe such as The Horn, Crow, Black Soldier, Motoki, Prairie Chicken, Brave Dog, and Ma'tsiyiiks; 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.
