COMMON BLACKFOOT TERMS
AND EXPRESSIONS
O’káát!: Sleep!
Nítssksinii’pa: I know.
Ássa! Póóhsapoot: Hey! Come here!
Saaám: medicine or powers of healing
Sstsiiysskaan: sweat lodge
Kitái’kó’pohpa?: Are you afraid?
Niitsítapi: (literally) “real people”; original people
Po-no-kah-mita: “elk-dog” or horse
Nioomítaa: a great horse
Ninaimsskaahkoyinnimaan: medicine pipe bundle
OTHER TERMS
Travois: a vehicle used by Plains Indians to carry loads over rough terrain. It consisted of two trailing poles that formed a frame for a load-bearing platform or netting. It could be harnessed to a horse or pulled by hand or a shoulder harness.
Counting Coo: To count “coo” or “coup” means to touch an armed enemy with a special stick called a coup stick, or with the hand. The touch is not a blow, but serves to indicate how close a warrior could get to his enemy and escape unharmed. As an act of bravery, counting coup was regarded as greater than killing an enemy in single combat, greater than taking a scalp or horses or any prize.
Fourth of July Pow-Wow: A Pow-wow is Native American Indian ceremony or organized social get-together. At the time of this story, the U.S. government only allowed these to take place as a celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. Independence Day was the only time that tribes were allowed to engage in traditional practices.