Kainai Nation
Shield of the Kainai Nation | |
| People | Blackfoot |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 7 |
| Headquarters | Stand Off |
| Province | Alberta |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Blood 148 |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 1362.639 km2 |
| Population (2021) | |
| On reserve | 4,572 |
| Total population | 12,963 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Roy Fox |
| Council |
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| Website | |
| bloodtribe | |
The Kainai Nation (/kaɪ-naɪ/) (Blackfoot: ᖿᖱᖻ, romanized: Káínaa, Blackfoot pronunciation: [kǽnaː] or ᖿᖱᖻᖷ, romanized: Káínawa, Blackfoot pronunciation: [kǽnaw̥ḁ] Blood Tribe) is a First Nations band government in southern Alberta, Canada, with a population of 12,965 members in 2024, up from 11,791 in December 2013.
Akáínaa Blackfoot pronunciation: [akǽnaː] translates directly to 'many chief' (from aká, 'many' and nínaa, 'chief') while Káína translates directly to 'many chief people'. The enemy Plains Cree call the Kainai mihkowiyiniw, 'stained with blood', thus 'the bloodthirsty, cruel', therefore, the common English name for the tribe is the Blood tribe.
The Kainai speak a language of the Blackfoot linguistic group; their dialect is closely related to those of the Siksika and Piikani. They are one of three nations comprising the Blackfoot Confederacy.
At the time treaties such as Treaty 7 were signed, the Kainai were situated on the Oldman, Belly, and St. Mary rivers west of Lethbridge, Alberta. The Kainai reserve Blood 148 is currently the largest in Canada with 4,570 inhabitants on 1,410 km2 (545 sq mi) and is located 200 kilometres (120 mi) south of Calgary.