For my “Big Idea Project”, a major component of FNIS 100, a course I am taking a UBC, I have decided to investigate the Myths and Legends of the Blackfoot people. Myths and Legends offer insight into the values and customs of any given people and help to establish greater understanding of their unique culture and heritage. I have chosen the Blackfoot People as the foundation for this project because Southern Alberta, the province in which I was born and raised, was historically Blackfoot Territory. I have seen pieces of their culture at both Writing on Stone Provincial Park, and Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. Both of these parks explain some of the Legends the Blackfoot People had, particularly pertaining to the figure Nappi. The Blackfoot used Nappi to explain things in their physical world, such as the erratics, large rocks distributed across the prairies by glaciers.
With this project, I plan on studying the Legends of the Blackfoot people to maintain a better understanding of the People and Mythology in General. I will look at a variety of myths and their implications. I will investigate Nappi and other prominent figures in Blackfoot Mythical Stories and Legends and see what this reveals about Blackfoot People and the richness of their culture. Legends and Myths provide glimpses in to the culture of people and help one to learn and appreciate the nuances of a that particular culture.
This project will investigate a series of Myths and Legends passed on through the Blackfoot Tradition and what the modern-day implications of that rich history are.
I like your focus here, Julie and how you position yourself in relation to the work. Just one note of caution: the phrase “myths and legends” carries a lot of anthropological weight and is often used by settlers to describe Indigenous peoples. You don’t want a literature review with no Indigenous peoples in it. Also, don’t relegate Blackfoot stories to the past alone. Do some research and find some contemporary Blackfoot storytellers. The library will be a big help here!