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Native Languages of the Americas:
Blackfeet Indian Legends and Traditional Stories

This is our collection of links to Blackfoot folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our American Indian legends section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from the Blackfoot tribe, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Gros Ventre and Plains Cree are very similar.

Enjoy the stories! If you would like to recommend a Blackfoot legend for this page or think one of the ones on here should be removed, please contact us and let us know.

Important Blackfoot Mythological Figures

Click on each character's name for more detailed information about his or her role in Blackfoot mythology.

Old Man (also known by his Blackfoot name, Naapi, or spelling variants such as Napi, Napiw, etc.): Naapi is the culture hero of the Blackfoot tribe (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.) He is a trickster, a troublemaker, and sometimes a foolish person, but he is also responsible for shaping of the world the Blackfeet live in and frequently helps the people. He is assisted in these tasks by his wife, Old Lady (Kipitaakii in Blackfoot). Naapi shares some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Cree Wisakedjak, Wabanaki Glooscap, and Anishinabe Manabus, and many of the same stories are told in different Algonquian tribes with only the identity of the protagonist differing. Napi is pronounced similar to nah-pee, and Kipitaki is pronounced similar to kih-pih-tah-kee.

Apistotoke: This is the Blackfoot name for the Creator (God,) who is also known by the name Ihtsipatapiyohpa ("Source of Life") or, in English, Great Spirit. Apistotoki is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes and is never personified in Blackfoot folklore. The name is pronounced similar to ah-piss-toh-toh-kee.

Above-People (Sspommitapiiksi in Blackfoot): Also known as the Sky People or Sky Beings, these sacred spirits were the first creations of Apistotoke and live in the Sky World far above the clouds.

Naato'si (also spelled Natosi and other ways): This is the Blackfoot sun god, ruler of the Sky People. Some anthropologists consider him to be the same as Apistotoke, but our Blackfoot speakers are adamant that they are two different mythological figures and Naato'si, although the principal god of the Blackfoot people, was not the one who created the universe. "Naato'si" is pronounced nah-toh-see, and literally means "holy one," though it is often used to refer to the sun in everyday speech as well. Naato'si is married to the Moon, Komorkis, and his son is the hero Morning Star, Iipisowaahs.

Ko'komiki'somma (also known as Komorkis): The moon goddess, and the wife of Naato'si the Sun. Together they are the parents of the stars. In Blackfoot, her name is pronounced similar to koh-koh-mih-kih-summ.

Iipisowaahs (also known as Apisirahts): Morning Star, the most important of Naato'si and Ko'komiki'somm's star children. He is the father (or by some some tellings, the adopted brother) of the mortal hero Star Boy.

Star Boy: A magical hero who is the son of a Blackfoot woman (Soatsaki, or Feather Woman) and the immortal Morning Star. After he and his mother are banished he is known as Poia instead, translated as "Scar-Face" in English (from the Blackfoot word payoo, "scar,") and after visiting the Sky Land his scar is healed and he gains the additional name of Mistaken-for-Morning-Star (because of his resemblance to Morning Star.) It was very common for Blackfoot people, especially boys and men, to take on new names several times in their life, so these name changes did not confuse Blackfoot listeners the way they confused some anthropologists!

Blood-Clot Boy (also known by his Blackfoot name, Katoyis): A mythical Blackfoot hero who has many adventures slaying monsters and wicked people.

Thunder Bird (Ksiistsikomiipi'kssiiwa.) A huge bird of prey, common to the mythology of most Plains Indian tribes,who is responsible for creating thunderstorms. In some Blackfoot legends, the Thunders are part of the Above People and have human form, instead of being giant birds.

Little People: Little People in Blackfoot folklore are usually child-sized, benevolent, and shy nature spirits. They are said to have a variety of magical powers, most often the ability to become invisible or shapeshift into animals. In many legends they reveal themselves only to children, with whom they have a special affinity.

Blackfoot Indian Folklore

*Indian Why Stories:
    Online collection of Blackfoot and Chippewa-Cree legends from Montana.
*Blackfeet Creation Tale:
    Blackfeet myths about the creation of the world.
*Earth Diver Myths:
    Comparison of Blackfoot and Iroquois creation myths.
*Old Man and Old Woman * Woman Chooses Death * The Origin of Death:
    Blackfoot legends about the creation of humans and the origin of death.
*How The Old Man Made People:
    A different Blackfoot creation myth, with Nape and Coyote creating people together.
*The Mistakes of Old-Man:
    Blackfoot myth about Naapi placing animals upon the earth.
*Origin of the Worm Pipe: * How the Worm Pipe Came to the Blackfoot:
    Blackfoot legends about the origin of the sacred Worm Pipe.
*The Sacred Weed * A Tobacco Legend:
    Blackfoot legends about nawak'osis, tobacco.
*Origins of the Buffalo Dance:
    Blackfoot myths about the beginning of the Buffalo Dance.
*The Theft from Sun * The Fire-Leggings:
    Blackfoot stories about Napi trying to steal the Sun's pants.
*Why the Birch Tree Wears the Slashes in its Bark:
    Blackfoot legend about Napi's fight with a birch tree.
*Old Man and the Roasted Squirrels * A Meal For Nata'yowa:
    Lynx steals food from Napi and suffers the consequences.
*Blood Clot Boy * Kut-o'-yis:
    Blackfoot saga of the hero Blood Clot Boy.
*The Story of Poia * Star Boy * Scarface and the Sweatlodge:
    Blackfeet stories about the young hero Scarface.
*The Piqued Buffalo Wife:
    The Blackfoot legend of the hero Calfboy.
*The First Men and Women Marry:
    Blackfeet myth about how men and women first chose spouses.
*Buffalo and Eagle Wing:
    Blackfoot Indian legend about a broken promise to the buffaloes.
*Little Friend Coyote:
    Blackfoot story about a coyote who helped a Piegan widow escape from the Kutenais.
*The Snake With Big Feet:
    Blackfeet legend about the origin of the Shoshone tribe.
*The Falcon and the Duck:
    Blackfoot folktale about a boastful duck.
*The Sacred Buffalo Stone * The Buffalo Rock:
    Blackfoot legends about iniskim, the buffalo stone.
*Beaver Medicine * Two Brothers:
    Blackfeet legends about a boy deceived by his sister-in-law.
*Adventures Of Bull Turns Round:
    Another Blackfeet story about a young hero and a deceitful sister-in-law.
*Beaver Meat:
    Why not to anger the beavers.
*Why Blackfeet Never Kill Mice:
    How Mouse helped man become ruler of the animals.
*Legend of the Crazy Dog Society:
    Myth about the origins of one of the traditional Blackfoot warrior societies.
*Chief Mountain:
    Legend about a Piegan chief's widow who went mad with grief.
*How Muskrat Created The World:
    Legends about Muskrat from the Blackfoot, Ojibway, Mohawk, and Potawatomi tribes.
*The Orphan Boy and the Elk Dogs:
    19th-century legend about how horses came to the Blackfeet.

Recommended Books on Blackfoot Mythology

Mythology of the Blackfoot Indians:
    Collection of traditional Blackfoot legends and folktales.
When Bear Stole the Chinook:
    Children's book illustrating a Blackfoot legend about how Weasel retrieved the warm spring wind from Bear.
Storm Maker's Tipi:
    Picture book based on a Blackfoot legend about the origin of tepees and storm medicine.
Indian Legends from the Northern Rockies:
    Anthology of folklore from the Blackfoot and other Northern Plains tribes.
Turtle Island: Tales of the Algonquian Nations:
    Anthology of legends from the Blackfoot and other Algonquian tribes.
American Indian Trickster Tales:
    Compilation of more than a hundred stories about Napi and other Native American tricksters.
    (Use discretion sharing these with kids as some of the stories contain adult humor.)

Additional Resources

 Blackfoot religion
 Blackfeet religion
 Books of Native American legends
 Siksika words
 Native American spirituality
 Indian tribes of Montana
 Plains Indians
 Algonquian languages
 Blackfoot history
 Native Indian website



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