The Blackfoot Confederacy is an association of related tribes that were once among the most powerful in North America. Today, the Amiskapi Pikani (Southern Piegan) live on a reservation in Montana, and the other member tribes – the Kaina (Blood), Pikani (Piegan) and Siksika (Blackfoot proper) – have smaller reserves in southern Alberta. Although less numerous than those in the United States, the Canadian Blackfoot have retained more of their traditional music and other arts. The Scalp Lock Signers are from Sikisika reserve, some sixty miles to the east of Calgary.

The Blackfoot people have lived on the northern prairies since long before 1492. They speak an Algonkian language related to those of the Cree, Cheyenne and many other peoples west of the Great Lakes. For thousands of years, the prairie tribes followed a nomadic way of life based on hunting the bison (buffalo). Ironically, it was indirect contact with Europeans–resulting int the adoption of the horse–that brought about the golden age of the plains hunters. The Blackfoot did not obtain this animal until the 1730's, but within a remarkably short time became superb horsemen.

That age of mobility and prosperity was to be tragically short-lived: in the nineteenth century, more sinister gifts of the white man began to arrive. In 1837, and again in 1869, smallpox plagues destroyed perhaps two thirds of the Blackfoot population. After the latter epidemic, unscrupulous 'whisky' traders (mainly from the U.S.) established themselves at the infamous Fort Whoop-Up in what is now southern Alberta. Bad liquor and bad guns reduced the Blackfoot to the point that they welcomed the coming of the Mounties in 1874. There were then some good years, but the buffalo became fewer and fewer, and the white settlers ever more numerous. By the end of the 1880's, the Blackfoot were confined to their present reserves.

Since 1960, there has been a revival of Indian national consciousness, and a corresponding renaissance of traditional culture with adaptations to a drastically changed world. Intertribal powwows are now a regular part of Indian life. Today the Blackfoot travel in cars and camper-vans, not on horseback; but once at such meetings, they set up tipis and gather round the drum to sing music such as that presented here.

In former times the music was almost exclusively associated with religious rites and the activities of warrior societies. Nowadays, although traditional roles are presented in part, there is greater emphasis on entertainment and competitions. Professional dancers and singing groups tour the powwows and are judged by experts. This has ensured a high degree of excellence, but also considerable mingling of styles from different regions.

The music, though ancient in origin, is vital: singers constantly compose new songs within traditional and non-traditional forms. As with most native American music, the pentatonic scale predominates. Songs often have four verses or movements known as "starts", and typically–the music consists of vocables sung in melodic contours descending from high to low.

The large drum heard here has hide membranes stretched over both ends of a circular wooden frame some three feet in diameter and one foot deep. It is placed on the ground, or supported on the musicians' toes, and beaten by all the singers who sit around it in a circle. The small drum has only one membrane stretched over an octagonal frame about sixteen inches by four inches deep. It is held in the hand and beaten by the singer.

(Unless otherwise stated in the the notes, all are singing with the large drum only.)

--Ronald Wright