BLACKFOOT COUNTRY

THESE FOLKS LIVE IN NORTHWEST MONTANA ALONG THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS AT 4 -9000 FEET IN ELEVATION. WE HAVE MET SOME BLACKFOOT INDIANS. THEY HAVE 8500 MEMBERS WHO LIVE ON THE RESERVATION AND 6700 OFF OF IT. BROWNING IS THEIR HEADQUARTERS. ACCORDING TO THEIR CREATION STORIES THE OLD MAN MADE THE MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS AND PRAIRIES. HE MADE MILK RIVER AND LAID DOWN TO REST. HE MARKED HIS FIGURE WITH STONES THAT YOU CAN SEE TODAY. HE MADE SOME BUTTES AS WELL. HE MADE ANTELOPE OUT OF DIRT AND IN 7 DAYS HE MADE A WOMAN AND CHILD. HE MOLDED PEOPLE AND THE WORLD AND THE NEXT DAY HE SAID ARISE AND WALK AND THEY DID! THEY RANCH, FARM, AND ARE GIVEN FUNDS FROM OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT AND HELP HARVEST TIMBER. THEIR CROPS ARE WHEAT, BARLEY, AND HAY. THEY ARE DESCENDED FROM THE SIKSIK AND OTHER TRIBES OF SASKATCHEWAN. BY 1880'S THE BUFFALO WAS BECOMING EXTINCT. AND THEY WERE FORCED TO LIVE ON THE RESERVATION. OF 1.5 MILLION ACRES. TODAY THEY HAVE AN OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT , A SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER, A HEALING AND HEALTH CENTER, FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM, HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THEY ALSO HAVE A MUSEUM. THEY WERE REFERRED TO THE LORDS OF THE PLAINS. THE MUSEUM WAS BUILT IN 1941 AND DISPLAYS THEIR RICH ARTS AND CREATIVE WORKS. IT ALSO DISPLAYS THEIR CEREMONIAL DRESS. THEY BEADED SHIRTS AND MOCCASINS. THEY HAVE A BISON RESERVE. THE EXTINCTION OF THE BISON DESTROYED THEIR LIFESTYLE. IN 1883 1/3 OF THEIR POPULATION STARVED. BLACKFOOTCOUNTRY.COM OPI.MT.GOV/PD/