Aitsi’poyiiksi Symposium

Aitsi’poyiiksi Symposium

Story By Amber Sugai, Henry Heavyshield, and Pam Blood

Another successful Aitsi’poyiiksi Symposium prepares us for a new season of revitalizing Niitsipoh’ssin

The Aitsi’poyiiksi Committee held another successful Blackfoot Language Symposium on October 14, 15 and 16, 2025 at the Lethbridge Lodge in Lethbridge, AB with nine presentations and approximately 300 attendees daily.

There have been 14 symposiums hosted by the Committee to provide a time and place for Blackfoot speakers to share their knowledge and learn about projects and resources in the community.

“All these symposiums in the past years speak to not losing our language, we must make it strong,” said Arnold Fox, Aitsi’poyiiksi Committee member and Blood Tribe Social Development Director.

Fox talks about the theme of this year’s Aitsi’poyiiksi symposium, which was Aasopowatsistotoohsao’p which means ‘Preparing Ourselves’. The Aitsi’poyiiksi Committee chose the theme as a reference to preparing ourselves for revitalizing the language. Fox interprets the theme in two different ways, the first being traditionally and how our people prepared for the winter in the fall to be comfortable for the harsh winter months; second how the past symposiums were preparing us for the Blackfoot language revitalization.

“We have to consciously work towards preserving our language, we have to actively act towards injecting the language into every aspect of our lives,” said Fox.

Blood Tribe Chief and Council identified Blackfoot language revitalization as a priority and with the facilitation of Leroy Wolf Collar and BTA Directors, went into strategic planning followed by a series of meetings and designed the Niitsitapi Culture and Language Strategic Plan.  

“We have a lot of work to do and it’s not just on department and entities; it’s the whole community. We need to get the community behind us on the Blackfoot language effort,” said Maria Russell, Blood Tribe Councillor

Leroy Wolf Collar, Chief and Council Strategic Plan Facilitator, identified the risks of losing our language and, why it is important for the Blood Tribe. The loss of identity and worldview, disruption of intergenerational knowledge transfer, erosion of cultural practices and spirituality, mental health and community well-being, loss of land-based knowledge, threat to sovereignty and nationhood and global cultural diversity at risk.

“When language is lost, so are the stories, teachings, and oral history passed down from generations,” said Wolf Collar.

Current initiatives are the Blackfoot Language act, an app, a Blackfoot Language Hub and projects that highlighted the efforts our community is making in preserving our language.

Kainai Board of Education (KBE) in addition to Chief and Council, other entities showcased their projects; is finding ways to implement the language in the student’s everyday lives by developing a curriculum for K4 to Grade 12 and a language lab at the High School. KBE is still researching and developing programs that will help students to speak, write, and read the language.

Red Crow Community College staff had two students Kaskia Many Chief and Keanu Creighton speak and share their projects that they have learnt in their Blackfoot class. The Projects consisted of learning teepee designs, transfers, dreams, and warrior experiences.

Laurie Spotted Bull, a Blackfoot Language teacher at Cardston High School teaching Blackfoot Language taught the crowd on how to pronounce words and explained to the crowd how continuously seeing, speaking, and hearing Blackfoot helps to start speaking fluent Blackfoot. Spotted Bull brought in two students, Layla Scout and Kadence Eagle Bear to demonstrate what they have learned in class, both students spoke and read Blackfoot to the crowd.

Jacinta Fox presented a genealogy and family tree presentation, Fox’s’ mission was hope’s that everyone researches their family tree and background to find connection to their identity and culture. Fox then explained the Fox family lines and went over Holy Bear Woman families and connections.

Camina Weasel Moccasin provided a Galt Museum update on all the collections that are brought into the museum every year. The Galt Museum has 17,000 items in collection; each item is entered into a database and then posted onto the Galt Museum website. Weasel Moccasin also wanted to let everyone know that it is free for members to go in and see the gallery, and to learn more about our culture and history.

Makiinima (Roy Fox) former Chief, gave a presentation about the Blackfoot Historical Accounts, why the Blackfoot language is so important to learn. Makiinima gave pointers on ways to say certain words such as Kitakitamatsin as this way is a positive way of saying your goodbye’s rather than the western term ‘good-bye’. Makiinima also talked about sharing the originality of our language and tribal history to be told in an interesting way so that our audience is captured. He ended his presentation with a video speaking in Blackfoot and telling a story of Makiinima.

It is a story of a man who through his compassion and empathy is gifted powers to heal from the Curlew (makiinimaa) spirit and given instructions to make a war-shirt that would protect him from harm. He establishes himself for his bravery, strength, and ability to heal others. Later in his life, Makiinimaa rescues his kin but is injured in the process. However, he uses the medicines and songs he was taught in order to heal himself.

“Makiinimaa was my great ancestor, and I was fortunate to be told of this particular accounting over and over again. And I am so proud to carry his name. He had empathy for his relatives and friends. However, he was fearless and merciless against those that would harm his people. Throughout my life I have tried to follow this important principle, and I would like to believe my words and actions have proven them,” said Makiinimaa.

By telling his story in Niitsipoh’ssin, Makiinimaa shows us the complexity, humour, and structures that make our Niitstitapi storytelling traditions such an important facet of our language and ways of life. Some of these nuances, however, are not always conveyed in translation, and this only further stresses the necessity of maintaining our language.

On the last day the morning panel was ‘New Words or Phrases’ the audience was given a piece of paper to write down a new phrase or word to be translated into Blackfoot. Eight individuals were picked and spilt into two teams, Team 1 Rosie Many Grey Horse, Kim Black Water, Vivian White Quills, Agnes First Charger, and Delia Twigg, Team 2 George Little Shields, Dale Low Horn, Makiinima, Charlie Fox. These were the words that were chosen randomly, and these are the translated words that each group came up with:

The last session of the symposium was a powwow hosted by Diana Plume and Pauline White Grass. The Powwow consisted of teachings on the Owl Dance, Rabbit Dance, Crow Two-Step, and ended the powwow with a Round Dance.

Harriet Heavy Runner, Aitsi’poyiiksi Committee member talked about the importance of speaking and teaching Blackfoot at home. The language will only continue if we all collectively learn the language. Heavy Runner emphasizes that it is not up to teachers or departments to save the language; it is up to us, the language must be spoken at home.

Niitsipoh’ssin is foundational to our identities as Niitsitapi. The Blood Tribe is taking significant steps towards the revitalization of our language among our people. Aitsi’poyiiks Symposium 2025 provided both inspiration through the stories shared by language learners and educators, as well as informative updates regarding the concrete actions undertaken by individuals and organizations towards making Niitsipoh’ssin a thriving language. We would like to thank all the presenters, organizers, elders, participants, and guests that helped make this year’s symposium a success. If you are interested in continuing or starting your own journey of learning Niitsipoh’ssin, you are encouraged to check out some of the resources and programming highlighted above. A complete video of the symposium will be posted on our website at bloodtribe.org in the following weeks. We look forward to seeing you all at next year’s symposium. Kiitaakiitaamatsin.