Conversational Blackfoot

Greetings

“Oki, Ni to mah to to, Si koh ko to ki” Hello, I am from Lethbridge 

The term Oki opens and establishes communication.

Common Blackfoot Conversation

  • Hello, how is everything?; Oki, tsanitapi?

  • See you later; Kaitama’tsin

  • What’s your name?; Tsa kitsiska’sim?

  • My name is...; Nitsiska’sim...

  • Where are you from?; Tsima kitomahtotopa?

  • I’m from...; Nitomahtoto...

  • Good Morning; Ii-taa-mik-kss-ka-nao-to-ni

  • All is well; Sokapi

  • All is not well; Matssokapi

  • Where are you from?; Tsima kitomahtotopa?

  • Did you have a good sleep?; Kii-tai-soo-kso-kahp?

  • How are things?; Tsa-nii-ta-piiwa?

  • You what is your name?; Kiis-to tsa-kitsisskasim?

  • What are you doing?; Kii-tai-kih-pa?

  • I am going to...; Nitaitapo...

  • I will go to...;Nitaakitapo...

  • I went to...; Nitsit’tapo...

  • Where are you going?; Tsima kitaitapohpa?

  • Where will you go?; Tsima kitaakitapohpa?

  • Where did you go?; Tsima kitsit’tapohpa?

Common Blackfoot Commands

Following is a list of instructions for parents to start using at home in an effort to teach your children the Blackfoot language. Tribes that have started to immerse themselves in their language say starting with instructions is an excellent area to begin.

  • Come in; piit [plural: piik]

  • Go outside; saksit [plural: saksik]

  • Come here; pohsapot’a [plural: pohsapok’a]

  • Go away; misstapot’a [plural: misstapok’a]

  • Sit down; makoapiit [plural: makoapiik]

  • Stand up; popoyiit [plural: popoyiik]

  • Open the door; kayinnit kitsim

  • Close the door; ookiita kitsim

  • Eat; ooyiita [plural: ooyiika]

  • Drink; simita [plural: simika]

  • Give it to me; ko’kiita

  • Give to him/her; kotsisa

  • Wait; oohkimaat [plural: oohkimaak]

  • Wake up; pokakita [plural: pokakika]

  • Get up; poo-waat

  • Wash your face; is-sis-kii-tsit

  • Wash your hands; is-tsi-mii-yit

  • Brush your teeth; is-sii-kii-niis-tsit 

  • Comb your hair; ak-kss-kii-nii-yit

  • Go to sleep; ma-to-yoo-kaat

  • Go outside and play; sao-taa-wah-kaat

  • Help me; is-poom-mo-kit

  • Wash the dishes; is-sa-kit

  • Clean up/tidy up; ksik-ka-pis-to-ta-kit

  • Clean up your bedroom; kitsitayookahpa’

  • Put your clothes on; a-ksis-to-toh-sit

  • Put your coat on; maak-saap-ss-koh-sit

  • Sit down; makopiit [plural: makopiik]

  • Sit still; ikss’ koopiit [plural: ikss’ koopiik]

  • Sit and listen; isstsanopiit [plural: isstsanopiik]

  • Go and sit down; matoyakoapiit [plural: matoyakoapiik]

  • Sit here; amm istopiit [plural: amm istopiik]

  • Sit there; omm istopiit [plural: omm istopiik]

  • Look at me; issamokit [plural: issamokik]

  • Listen; isstsiivit [plural: isstsiivik]

  • Stand up; popoiyit [plural: popoiyik]

  • Come here; pohsapot [plural: pohsapok]

  • Get up from a sitting or lying position; powaata [plural: powaaka]

  • Hurry up; nitakit [plural: nitakik]

  • Let’s go; oo’kii

  • Turn on the lights; anakimaat

  • Put it away; misstapoh’toota

  • Throw it away; misstapapiksit

  • Go ahead, do it; ka’koa’a

  • Help me; sspommokit

  • Help him/her; sspommos

  • Try hard ; ika’kimaat [plural: ika’kimaak]

  • Line up; maaksipoyit

  • Put your shoes on; maks’tsitsikit

  • Put your jacket on; maks’saps’kohsit

Delivering Instructions

There are three parts or steps to instructions: hearing, saying, and answering.

Hearing

The most important step hearing is repetition. When introducing a word, it needs to be repeated many times. It is no different from teaching a toddler a word: you repeat it over and over again until they learn the word. We think we don’t know how to teach but as parents we are all teachers because we were the ones who taught our child how to talk.

You tell your child oo-yit (eat) and you repeat the word 3–4 times.

Saying

The next step is to start telling them to say the word (or to repeat after you). Most times once they feel comfortable they will automatically say the word.

Very important once they know the words: try not to go back to English.

Answering

Once they know the word get them to start answering you: ooyit - aa ni-ta-ksoi (eat - yes I will eat).

You can practice reversing your roles. Have your child tell you to “eat” and you answer “yes I will eat.”

Look at this...

  • Saamis amm kiaayoo; look at this bear

  • Saamis amm apotskina; look at this cow

  • Saamis amm iimitaa; look at this dog

  • Saamis amm aiksiniwa; look at this pig

  • Saamis amm poos; look at this cat

  • Saamis amm ninaa; look at this man

  • Saamis amm akikoan; look at this girl

  • Saamis amm aki; look at this woman

  • Saamis amm kipitaki; look at this old woman

  • Saamis amm saahkomapi; look at this boy

My

  • ninna

  • niksista

  • nisskani

  • niisissa

  • ni’ssa

  • nin’ssta

  • naahsa

Your

  • kinna

  • kiksista

  • kisskani

  • kiisissa

  • ki’ssa

  • kin’ssta

  • kaahsa

His/Her

  • onni

  • oksista

  • osskani

  • oosissa

  • oo’ssa

  • on’ssta

  • maahsa

My Family

  • Ninna anisstawa

  • Niksista anisstawa

  • Nisskani anisstawa

  • Nisissa anisstawa

  • Ni’ssa anisstawa

  • Nin’ssta anisstawa

  • Naahsa anisstawa

Julius Delaney2 Comments