Treaty 7 - day 2 Blackfoot Confederacy
Understanding more about an Indigenous people who have lived here for as long as anyone can remember.
These activities can be done alone, but work best with one or more friends on a video chat like Skype, Zoom, Facetime, etc.
Grades K-3
Grades K-3
Mindfulness Activity
Trivia question: What is Diamond Willow?
a) A type of jewelry
b) A type of tree
c) A dog’s name
Mindfulness activity:
- Put both palms together in front of your chest.
- Push your palms together as hard as possible.
- Count to 15.
- Which muscles can you feel? What do your muscles feel like when you push your hands together?
Bone Game
Supplies:
- 5 "Bones" (Large tongue depressors or popsicle sticks work. You can also cut out cardboard)
- Markers and/or paint
Traditionally, this game was played with carved buffalo rib bones and was important in helping Blackfoot children learn to add and count.
Have your child decorate the "bones" with patterns like in the picture, or get creative and adapt it to your child's age.
The white dots on the "bones" represent points. You can have them make their own design and add dots or symbols for counting.
How to play:
- Take turns throwing the “bones” on the floor in front of you.
- Count the number of dots or symbols you can see, then give the “bones” to the next player.
- The first person to 20 points, wins the game. Blank sides count as 0.
*Photo taken by Calgary Neighbourhoods
Blackfoot Territory Stretch
Bend over and touch your toes. Traditional Blackfoot territory stretches all the way south to the Yellowstone River.
Now, stand up and bend your body to the left. Traditional Blackfoot territory stretches east to Manitoba.
Now, reach your hands as high as you can. Traditional Blackfoot territory stretches north all the way to the North Saskatchewan River.
Now, stand tall and bend your body to the right. Traditional Blackfoot territory stretches all the way west to the Rocky Mountains.
Paper Weaving
Supplies:
- Paper (use coloured paper if you have it, or colour white paper with markers)
- Stapler or glue
- Scissors
Weaved baskets were created for a specific purpose. They were used in the gathering, storing, washing and preparing food. Baskets were also used to store non-food items.
Some baskets were very sturdy and were used to carry large loads. Some baskets were woven out of very flexible materials so they could be folded up. Some were lined with pitch to make them waterproof.
- Help your child make 8 strips of ½ inch wide by 11 inch long paper. Lay them side by side vertically.
- One at a time, weave in the other 8 strips of paper horizontally (guide the paper under one strip, over the next and under again until you reach the end).
- Staple the ends of each side together (6 strips at a time).
- Staple handles to the 4 corners.
Talking points to ask your child during the activity:
- What do you think baskets in Alberta or Treaty 7 land were made from? (sweet grass, pine needles, willow, cedar)
- How old do you think the oldest basket on record is? (Over 8000 years)
*Photos taken by Calgary Neighbourhoods
Review Questions
Ask your child:
- How does it feel to try traditional Blackfoot activities?
- Why do you think Blackfoot kids did these crafts and played these game?
- What other games and activities do you think Blackfoot kids traditionally played?
Mindfulness Trivia answer
Trivia answer: b) A type of tree that Treaty 7 people use for construction of their sweat lodges, medicines and basket weaving.