The Blackf eet were very religious. They feared many natural powers and influences whose work ings they did not understand, and they were constantly praying to the Sun—regarded as the ruler of the universe—as well as to those other powers which they believe live in the stars, the earth, the mountains, the animals, and the trees. The Blackfoot was constantly afraid that some evil thing might happen to him, and he there fore prayed to all the powers for help—for good fortune in his undertakings, for health, plenty, and long life for himself and all his family.
Among these tribes there are a number of secret societies known as the All Comrades or All Friends—groups of men of different ages, which have been alluded to in the stories. Originally there were about twelve of these
BLACKFEET INDIAN STORIES
societies, but a number have been abandoned of recent years.
The tribe was divided into a number of clans, all the members of which were believed to be related, and in old times no member of a clan was permitted to marry another member of the clan. Relations might not marry.
In olden times, when large numbers of peo ple were together, the lodges of the camp were pitched in a great circle, the opening toward the southeast. In this circle each clan camped in its own particular place with relation to the other clans. Within the circle was often a smaller circle of lodges, each occupied by one or more of the societies of the All Comrades. Sometimes it happened that great numbers of the Blackfeet came together, perhaps even all of the three tribes, Blackfeet, Bloods, and Pie-gans. When this was the case, each tribe camped by itself with its own circle, no matter how near it might be to one or other of the tribal circles.
We read of some tribes of Indians which be lieved that after death the spirits of the de-
THE ANCIENT BLACKFEET
parted went to a happy hunting ground where game was always plenty and life was full of joy. The Blackfeet knew no such place as this. When they died their spirits were believed to go to a barren, sandy region south of the Sas katchewan, which they called the Sand Hills. Here, as shadows, the ghosts lived a life much like their existence before death, but all was unreal— unsubstantial. Riding on shadow horses they hunted shadow buffalo. They lived in shadow camps and when they moved shadow dogs hauled their travois. There are stories which tell that living people have seen these hunters, their houses, and their implements of the camp, but when the people got close they found that what they thought they hacl seen was something dif ferent. It reminds us a little of the old ballad of Alice Brand, where Urgan tells of the things seen in fairy-land:
" And gayly shines the Fairy-land—
But all is glistening show, Like the idle gleam that December's beam Can dart on ice and snow.
" And fading, like that varied gleam, Is our inconstant shape,
BLACKFEET INDIAN STORIES
Who now like knight and lady seem, And now like dwarf and ape."
Books have been written about the Blackfeet Indians which tell much more about how they lived than can be given here.
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