Small Robe Band of Blackfeet: Ethnogenesis by Social and Religious Transformation

One of the most significant challenges facing Native Americans and their indigenous identity is a greater understanding of the historical complexity of relationships that interconnected ethnically diverse populations across geographic landscapes. This thesis examines the range of Blackfoot political, social, economic structures, spiritual beliefs, and practices that were in place at the time of Euro-American contact. I use historically documented evidence of transformations that took place from the beginning of the fur trade era through the reservation era. Through the theoretical lens of ethnogenesis I use a case study of the Small Robe (Inuck’siks) band of the South Piegan of Montana to elucidate their responses to conditions of change. I conclude that all divisions of the Blackfoot Confederacy changed in response to catastrophic conditions of disease, warfare, other natural phenomena. Inclusion of Indians and non-Indians from other cultures ensured the continuity and survival of the tribe.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Montana

Year

2007

Author dc:creator

• Juneau, Linda Matt

• American Indians
• Blackfoot
• Cultural
• Indians
• Montana Tribes
• Native Americans
• Siksika
• Socities

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/890

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.umt.edu:etd-1909