Kainai Nation

Shield of the Kainai Nation

The Kainai Nation (or Káínawa, or Blood Tribe) is a First Nations band government in southern Alberta, Canada, with a population of 1000 members in 2005.[1]

Akáínaa translates directly to "Many Chief" (from aká - "many" and nínaa - "chief") while Káína translates directly to "Many Chief people." The enemy Plains Cree called the Kainai Miko-Ew - "stained with blood", i.e. "the bloodthirsty, cruel", therefore, the common English name for the tribe is the "Blood tribe."

The Kainai speak a language of the Algonquian linguistic group; their dialect is closely related to those of the Siksika and Peigan. They are one of three nations comprising the Blackfoot Confederacy.

At the time treaties such as Treaty 7 were signed, the Kainai were situated on the Oldman, Belly, and St. Mary rivers west of Lethbridge, Alberta. The Kainai reserve Blood 148 is currently the largest in Canada with 3,852 inhabitants [2] on 1,414.03 km² and is located approximately 200 kilometres south of Calgary. As of December 2013, the Kainai Nation had a total registered population of 11,791 people.[3]

Government

Band council

The Kainai Nation is governed by an elected council of twelve to fifteen, with one chief. The term of office is four years. Historical chiefs of the Kainai are below:

Blood Tribe Councillors (2016–present)[4]

  1. Dorothy First Rider
  2. Floyd Big Head
  3. Kyla Crow
  4. Lance Tailfeathers
  5. Martin Heavy Head
  6. Franklyn White Quills
  7. Joanne Lemieux (Blood)
  8. Robyn Little Bear
  9. Kirby Many Fingers
  10. Hank Shade
  11. Tim Tailfeathers
  12. Marcel Weasel Head

Police force

In pre-treaty times, the iikunuhkahtsi were a society responsible for the punishment of misdeeds. The Blood reserve is currently policed by the Blood Tribe Police, with 31 officers in 2015.

Notable people

Media

In 1960, the Kainai and their sacred Sun Dance were featured in the National Film Board of Canada documentary Circle of the Sun. Tribal leaders had been concerned that the Sun Dance might be dying out, and had permitted filming as a visual record.[6][7]

On National Aboriginal Day in 2011, the NFB released the Pete Standing Alone trilogy, which includes Circle of the Sun, Standing Alone and a 2010 film, Round Up, documenting 50 years of the Kainai Nation as well as the life of elder Pete Standing Alone.[8]

Historical Newspapers

Kainai News, Volume 1, Issue 9, October 15, 1968

Communities

The Kainai nation communities include:[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Alberta Municipal Affairs - 2005 Official Population list - Indian Registered Population. December 2005. Retrieved on 24 September 2006.
  2. ↑ Statistics Canada - 2001 Census Aboriginal Population Profile
  3. ↑ Blood Tribe Registered Population - Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada - "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-23.
  4. ↑ "Chief and Council". Blood Tribe. Archived from the original on January 24, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Stu-mick-o-súcks, Buffalo Bull's Back Fat, Head Chief, Blood Tribe by George Catlin". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  6. ↑ Rosenthal, Alan; John Corner. New challenges for documentary. Manchester University Press. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0-7190-6899-1.
  7. ↑ Low, Colin; Gil Cardinal. "Circle of the Sun". Curator's comments. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 4 December 2009.
  8. ↑ Anderson, Kelly (17 June 2011). "NFB celebrates National Aboriginal Day". Realscreen. Toronto. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Sanderson, Kay (1999). 200 Remarkable Alberta Women. Calgary: Famous Five Foundation. p. 101.
  10. ↑ Blood Tribe - About Us & Communities listed http://www.bloodtribe.org/content/about-us
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