Galt’s Hands-on History program explores Blackfoot animal names

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 1, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Attendants listened to Blanche Bruisedhead teach about Blackfoot culture and language this week at the Galt Museum and Archives.

The Galt Museum and Archives hosted a Blackfoot Animals Language program this week taught by the Galt’s Elder Blanche Bruisedhead, teaching children and adults about the Blackfoot animals and their names while colouring along with her teaching. The program gave attendants learning opportunities about pieces of history regarding the Blackfoot culture.

“It’s about language and literacy. It’s really important and wonderful to get that perspective, personally I’m always happy to learn from Blanche,” said Kristin Krein community program coordinator for the Galt.

“Today we open a book and learn, but a lot of times we close it and forget. Out in nature, it talks with you. That’s where the Blackfoot people learned how to live. If human beings on this earth today walked outside and sat there listening to nature, they would learn something new,” said Bruisedhead, teaching audiences on how knowledge is gained through other ways and the world around us can be a great teacher.

Kids in attendance were able to learn the names of local animals in the area, learning how the Blackfoot people gave them their titles.

“Animals are like names, it describes them. I like the fox, Si no pa. I like to say them,” said Koven Lovett, who has seen a fox up close when camping.

Bruisedhead was able to teach those in attendance through stories and engagement, reciting the words to them as they repeated it back.

“This one is smelly. Pee-ew. A pi Ka yii. What do you think that is?” asked Bruisedhead, having the kids answer back while revealing it to be a skunk.

Through fun and engagement kids were able to learn about the Blackfoot culture while colouring pictures to go along with the animals they were learning about.

“I tell this to the children to make them understand that if we don’t respect ourselves as people, therefore we cannot respect our teachers, Mother Earth,” said Bruisedhead.

With kids returning to school the Galt will still offer Hands-on History to families twice a month, every other Saturday at 10:30 to 11:30, while its community programming will continue with every other Wednesday at similar times.

“We have lots of history lessons and crafts, there is going to be a lot of opportunity to make something really interesting while learning something new about local history. They will still be the same format, it just won’t be as frequent,” said Krein.