People and Family
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.
