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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). 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 current population of the Siksika Nation is roughly 4,200 people.

Contents

Location

Government

Coat of Arms

Notable people

External links

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 Siksika Nation has a total population of approximately 6,200 members.

Government

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..
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.

Coat of Arms

In June 1992, ''Siksiká'' became the first 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 ''Siksiká'' because it provided our ancestors with food, clothing and shelter; the arrow in seven pieces represents the seven societies in the tribe—''Íítskinaiksi'' (Horn), Crow, ''Siksinnaki'' (Black Police/Soldier), Motoki, Prairie Chicken, Brave Dog, and ''Máóto'kiiksi'' (Buffalo women); 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.

Notable people

A notable member of the ''Siksiká'' was Crowfoot, a chief of the Siksika Nation and a signer of Treaty 7.
Another 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.

External links

★ Blackfoot Country - The online meeting place for the Blackfoot People.

★ Introduction to photo essay from 'Nitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life' museum exhibit

★ Concise description of the Blackfoot tribes

★ Kendra Big Snake's Statistics