People

• Ninaa: man (could also refer to a leader or chief)

• Aki: woman

• Saahkomapi: boy

• Akikoan: girl

• Kipitaki: old woman

• Omahkinaa: old man

• Pookaa: child

• Is’sitsimaan: baby (refers to swaddled infant)

• Ohkinniinaa: leader who wears medallion

• Maohkotooksskaiksi: wears red on their pants

• Niinawaakii: Queen

• lsttsipihkiniinaa: King

My Family (Ni is prefix)

• Nin na: my dad

• Ni ksi sta: my mother (the same for aunt)

• Nis skan: my younger sibling for a male (men refer to younger male relative) The plural form of Nisskaiksi refers to more than one younger sibling.

• Ni siss: my younger sibling for a female (women refer to younger female relative)

• Ni’ ssa: my older brother (refers to male relatives e.g., uncles and cousins)

• Nin’ ssta: my older sister (refers to female relatives e.g., auntie)

• Naah sa: my grandmother (refers to maternal and paternal grandmother)

• Naah sa: my grandfather (refers to maternal and paternal grandfather)

My Children

• Noo ko’ sa: my child

• Noo ko’ si ksi: my children (society members who transfer out of a society become the grandparents and they adopt initiates as my children) 

• Nii taan: my daughter (Ko ko naa is another term of reference to call one a daughter)

• Nii taa ni ksi: my daughters

• N’oh ko: my son (Ksiki is another term to call one a son)

• N’oh koi ksi: my sons

• Ni sso kos a: my grandchild

• Ni sso ko si ksi: my grandchildren

• Ni tsi ta pii mi ksi: my family

The terms for the family signify the strength of the relationships.

Your Family (singular - 3rd person reference)

• Kin na: your father

• Ki ksi sta: your mother

• Kis skan: your younger sibling for a male

• Ki siss: your younger sibling for a female

• Ki’ ssa: your older brother (Kisinoon: refers to our older brother)

• Kin’ ssta: your older sister

• Kaah sa: your grandfather

• Kaah sa: your grandmother

Their Family (singular)

• On ni: their dad 

• Oo ksista: their mother 

• Ois skan: his younger sibling 

• O siss: her younger sibling 

• O’ ssa: their older brother

• Oin’ ssta: their older sister

• Maah sa: their grandparent

Their Family (plural)

• On no wa: their father

• Oo ksis to wa: their mother

• Ois ska no wa: their younger brother

• O sis so wa: their younger sister

Our Family

• Kin noon: our father

• Ki ksis tsi noon: our mother

• Kis ska ni noon: our younger brother

• Ki sis si noon: our young sister

• Ki’ si noon: our older brother

• Kin’ stin noon: our older sister

• Kaah sin noon: our grandparent

Children are considered sacred gifts from Creator to women because of their ability to love and care for a child. Children and elders are the centre of the family unit. They are held in high regard. They represent the future and the past. Family members have a right to discipline the children so the child may learn about respect and to live a good way of life. 

If a father died, his brother takes on the responsibility to care and provide for his family. 

The Blackfoot People uphold the value of respect for each other and all life. One taboo for males is not to be in the same room as their mother-in-law or to have a personal conversation with her. This is to show respect for her.

Napi stories exist for both men and women. The stories teach about moral behaviour and living life in balance with each other and all life. One important lesson is about sharing with those experiencing difficulties.

New People: The Blackfoot People gave the new groups of people a name according to their character or appearance. For example, Na pi ko an: white man got their name to describe their behaviour which was outside normal Blackfoot society after Napi. Napi’s behaviour teaches about moral behaviour. We remind each other “don’t behave like Napi”. The Hutterites got their name Otahksistoyi which describes their round beards. 

Marriage relations

• Niipitaam: my wife

• Ninaapiim: my husband

• Nissa: my son-in-law

• Nimssa: my daughter-in-law

• Nissstamo: brother-in-law of a male, his sister’s husband

• Nisstamoohko: brother-in-law of a male, his wife’s brother 

• Nitootoyoom: brother-in-law of female 

• Nitootoohkiimaan: sister-in-law of male 

Your Family (Plural)

• Kinnowa: your father

• Kiksisstowa: your mother

• Kisskanowa: your younger brother

• Kisissowa: your younger sister

• Ki’sowa: your older brother

• Kin’stowa: your older sister

• Kaahssowa: your grandparent

• O’s so wa: their older brother

• Oin’s sto wa: their older sister

• Maah so wa: their grandparent

Fill in your family circle: you, mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, younger siblings, older siblings, aunts and uncles.