The three traditional languages spoken in Treaty 7 are Blackfoot, Tsuut’ina, and Nakoda. As we grow and build this site, there will be audio clips of Elders from all three language groups for reference of pronunciation. We have used Blackfoot here as a sample, as it is the most widely spoken of the three.

The Blackfoot language, also called Siksika, is an Algonquian language spoken by the Blackfoot or Niitsitapi people, who currently live in the northwestern plains of North America. There are four dialects, three of which are spoken in Alberta, Canada, and one of which is spoken in the United States: Siksiká (Blackfoot), to the southeast of Calgary, Alberta; Kainai (Blood, Many Chiefs), spoken in Alberta between Cardston and Lethbridge; Aapátohsipikani (Northern Piegan), to the west of Fort MacLeod which is Brocket (Piikani) and Aamsskáápipikani (Southern Piegan), in northwestern Montana. The Blackfoot language has been declining in the number of native speakers and is classified as either a threatened or endangered language.