Niitsitapi – Blackfoot, the First People

Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Blackfeet Nation

John Murray is a respected cultural leader and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Blackfeet Nation, known for his lifelong commitment to protecting Blackfeet heritage, lands, and traditions. A former Blackfeet Community College professor and Tribal Council member, Murray has led key efforts to preserve sacred sites like the Badger-Two Medicine and revitalize traditional knowledge through education and ceremony. He is a spiritual elder, bundle holder, and advocate for youth cultural engagement, honored with awards including the Montana Governor’s Humanities Award and induction into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame.

Educator and cultural leader, Blackfeet Nation

Carol Murray, an educator and cultural leader from the Blackfeet Nation, has dedicated her career to preserving and revitalizing Native American heritage. A graduate of Blackfeet Community College and Montana State University, she served 36 years at Blackfeet Community College, including as its first tribal college graduate to become president. She established Blackfeet Studies, secured over $20 million in funding, and led major campus projects. Murray has been a key figure in the repatriation of sacred items and revitalization of traditional societies and events. Her influence extends nationally through her speaking, scholarship, and curatorial work with institutions like the Smithsonian and Glenbow Museum.

Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Blackfeet Nation

Gheri Hall is a dedicated cultural practitioner of the Blackfeet Nation, committed to preserving and revitalizing her people’s traditions. She has served as Keeper of both the Beaver Bundle and the Brave Dog Bundle, upholding their spiritual significance and teachings for over a decade. Since 2011, Gheri has also partnered with the Blackfeet Tribal Historic Preservation Office, playing a vital role in protecting and promoting the tribe’s historical and cultural resources. Through her deep knowledge, respect for tradition, and unwavering dedication, she continues to be a respected and inspiring leader in cultural preservation within her community.

CEO, Blackfeet Eco Knowledge

Tyson Running Wolf is a dedicated outdoorsman, cultural leader, Montana State Legislator and a former tribal council Executive Secretary of the Blackfeet Tribe with a deep commitment to environmental conservation and Blackfeet traditions. Raised with a strong respect for the land passed down through generations, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and is pursuing a master’s in public administration. Tyson has served multiple legislative terms advocating for sustainable land and resource management, while also holding leadership roles within the Blackfeet Tribe. As a cultural leader and bundle holder, he continues to learn and uphold ancestral knowledge, balancing his public service with family life as a husband, father, and grandfather.

Executive Director of Projects, Blackfeet Eco Knowledge

Lona Running Wolf is a dedicated Indigenous education leader with experience as a teacher, curriculum specialist, and university professor. She has worked across Montana to improve schools, directed American Indian Student Achievement, and now supports tribal educator programs while consulting on Indigenous pedagogy. Holding multiple degrees and pursuing a doctorate, Lona and her husband Tyson are active cultural leaders revitalizing Blackfeet traditions while raising their large family.

Distinguished leader and Cultural Educator, Blackfeet Nation

Leon Rattler, a cultural leader of the Blackfeet Nation and member of the Blackfoot Confederacy, has spent over 30 years preserving traditional knowledge through education, ceremony, and mentorship. A Vietnam veteran, Sundance leader, and Beaver Bundle keeper, he shares Blackfeet spiritual and ecological teachings across generations. As an artist-in-residence at Glacier National Park and co-leader of Mopistun Four Directions, he supports cultural revitalization through ceremonies, land-based knowledge, and community guidance.

Piikani Elder

Jerry Potts Jr., a respected Piikani elder of the Blackfoot Confederacy, has been a vital force in the preservation and revitalization of Blackfoot spiritual and cultural traditions. Deeply committed to cultural restoration, he has led efforts to repatriate sacred ceremonial items—such as rattles, masks, bundles, and pipes—from museums and institutions back to Blackfoot communities. His work has not only revived long-dormant ceremonies but has also restored a profound sense of identity, pride, and spiritual well-being among his people. Through his leadership, Potts continues to inspire intergenerational reconnection to traditional lifeways and ensure the survival of Blackfoot heritage for the future.

Piikani Elder

Velma Crowshoe is a respected Piikani Elder who has been instrumental in bridging Indigenous knowledge and archaeological practice. As a member of collaborative initiatives, she emphasizes the critical importance of listening to Blackfoot oral tradition—stories, songs, and language passed down from elders—in interpreting ancestral lands, artifacts, and creation narratives. She advocates that many aspects of Blackfoot lifeways cannot be translated into English yet are foundational to identity and belonging. Through her work, Crowshoe ensures that Indigenous voices guide and enrich the interpretation of cultural heritage, fostering deeper intergenerational connection to Niitsitapi knowledge and history.

Piikani Elder and Cultural Leader

Leonard Weasel Traveller–Apamahka is a respected Piikani elder, cultural leader, and traditional knowledge keeper of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He has served as Councilor and Head Chief of the North Piikani Nation, chaired the Alberta Chiefs’ Summit Process, and provided over 20 years of consultation to Indigenous Child and Family Services. Known for preserving Blackfoot traditions through ceremonies and education, he led a 2023 naming ceremony at The Confluence Historic Site and a Pipe Ceremony marking a key agreement with Calgary. His work focuses on cultural preservation, reconciliation, and the repatriation of sacred items.

First Nation Nitsitapii Metis Inuit Facilitator, Holy Spirit School Division

Traven Weasel Traveller, originally from the Piikani Nation and a graduate of Lethbridge, Alberta, is deeply rooted in Blackfoot ceremonial traditions through his grandfather, Leonard Weasel Traveller, and family ties to the Yellow Horn and Bruised Head families. He currently works as a First Nation Nitsitapii Metis Inuit Facilitator with the Holy Spirit School Division, where he promotes Blackfoot culture and pride among students. Passionate about sharing Blackfoot stories that highlight the bravery of Indigenous heroes and heroines, Traven also coaches basketball at St. Paul’s School in Lethbridge. In the past, he played five seasons as an offensive lineman with the Vancouver Island Raiders in the Canadian Junior Football League.

Ceremonial Knowledge Keeper and Leader, Siksika Nation

Kent Ayoungman, also known by his Blackfoot name Riding a Painted Horse, is a respected ceremonial knowledge keeper and former band councilor of the Siksika Nation, part of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Deeply committed to preserving and revitalizing Blackfoot cultural practices, he has collaborated with educational institutions to develop Indigenous curricula and has been recognized with honors such as an honorary doctorate and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. Ayoungman has played a key role in repatriation efforts and is an influential voice in integrating Blackfoot perspectives into archaeology and cultural education, inspiring ongoing work in cultural preservation and decolonization.

Prominent Activist and Former Chief of the Siksika Nation

Linda Little Chief is a respected member of the Siksika Nation and the widow of Roy Little Chief, a prominent activist and former Chief of the Siksika Nation. She has been actively involved in various cultural and historical initiatives, including contributing to the digitization of Blackfoot items held in museums. In 2019, she participated in a project at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, where she joined other Blackfoot leaders to examine and document cultural artifacts. Additionally, she has been involved with the Apani Blackfoot Digital Library, a project aimed at preserving and sharing Blackfoot knowledge and heritage. Her efforts continue to support the preservation and revitalization of Blackfoot culture and history.

Ceremonial Knowledge Keeper and Elder-in-Residence, Siksika Nation

Herman Yellow Old Woman is a highly respected elder and ceremonial knowledge keeper of the Siksika Nation, renowned for his pivotal role in the repatriation of sacred Blackfoot cultural items from prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum. As elder-in-residence at Old Sun Community College, he passionately advocates for the return of vital artifacts like the Weather Dance Robe and Buffalo Woman’s Headdress, emphasizing their importance for ceremonial use, cultural healing, and the restoration of community identity. His unwavering dedication to cultural preservation and Indigenous sovereignty earned him the prestigious 2020 Lieutenant Governor’s Award from the Alberta Museums Association.