Culture

Cultural Practices

The Nitsitapii people once lived a way of life that provided positive coping skills and values that helped them to live a positive life. Through their systems and tools, they shared values and life skills to every person, teaching general knowledge such as hunting, harvesting, and how to interact with the landscape. Children were taught values and protocols, and young adults learned their roles. The elders were responsible for deciding who was ready for deeper knowledge. When their culture was intact, the Nitsitapii people were whole. (Source: "Kainai Studies Institute." Kainai Studies Institute - Kainai Studies - University of Lethbridge (uleth.ca)

The Nitsitapii people have undergone cultural changes over time, as is typical in any culture. However, due to attempts at assimilation and genocide, the surface level of their culture has been impacted the most. This has led to shifts in their ways of being, systems, values, and practices. Despite this, their culture has not died and has remained resilient. In the past, the Nitsitapii culture was centered on survival, communal existence, and passing down cultural knowledge to future generations. Love for one another and determination to ensure the survival of their children were some of their strengths. (Citation: Smith, D.G., & Finch, K. (2019). Blackfoot religion and the consequences of cultural commodification. Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 39(2), 1-15.)

Shifting Paradigms/Worldviews