Napi Legends

The Kainai Tribe of the Blackfoot Confederacy is very fortunate to have one of its elders take the time to relate a few of the many legends that were passed on by previous generations. At the time White Feathers agreed to provide the guidance for this project, he was 96 years old. These legends have been retained through the oral tradition of the First Nations' people for countless generations. "These legends are most valuable to the young people," White Feathers said. "Unless they are told to our young people in classrooms and in textbooks, a great part of our culture, history and language will be lost." With this in mind, we have tried to remain faithful in the translation to the original form and content used in the Blackfoot oral tradition.

Our Blackfoot legends are vital to our nation, because they set us apart and define us as a distinct people in the family of man. These legends tell much of the history of the First Nations' people before the arrival of Europeans on our land. Our legends tell us of where and from whence we came, and in a special way, provide meaning and substance to our lives. They tell the people of today of a heroic age, when the "Red People" were part of a community that was nature, when people could talk to and understand the animals. Today, all human societies must deal with the effects of man's self-importance. People see themselves as being somehow above, rather than a part, of the natural order.

The legends of Napi tell of the virtues and weaknesses of man, which are a part of the renewal of the earth. These remain relevant because they entertain both while teaching and while giving lessons. Perhaps, one of the main morals in the Napi stories is that we, First Nations' people, as a group and as individuals, must continue to work out our future and find our own solutions in a complex ever-changing environment.

These legends have been told to students in both Blackfoot and English, from kindergarten to grade six. They have proven to be very successful, interesting and entertaining. The children love these stories and want to hear more.