Editing Blackfoot Confederacy (section)

===Indian Wars===
[[File:Single-Handed, Charles Marion Russell 1912.jpg|thumb|''Single-Handed'', [[Charles Marion Russell]] 1912. The painting shows a North-West Mounted Police officer attempting to arrest a defiant warrior at a Blood camp, probably in Alberta or Saskatchewan.]]
[[File:Winnipeg Jack 1890.jpg|thumb|Dog Child (''Winnipeg Jack''), a Blackfoot scout and interpreter for the NWMP.]]
Like many other Great Plains Indian nations, the Niitsitapi often had hostile relationships with white settlers. Despite the hostilities, the Blackfoot stayed largely out of the Great Plains Indian Wars, neither fighting against nor scouting for the United States army. One of their friendly bands, however, was attacked by mistake and nearly destroyed by the US Army in the [[Marias Massacre]] on 23 January 1870, undertaken as an action to suppress violence against settlers. A friendly relationship with the [[North-West Mounted Police]] and learning of the brutality of the Marias Massacre discouraged the Blackfoot from engaging in wars against Canada and the United States.

When the [[Lakota people|Lakota]], together with their [[Cheyenne people|Cheyenne]] and [[Arapaho]] allies, were fighting the United States Army, they sent runners into Blackfoot territory, urging them to join the fight. [[Crowfoot]], one of the most influential Blackfoot chiefs, dismissed the Lakota messengers. He threatened to ally with the NWMP to fight them if they came north into Blackfoot country again. News of Crowfoot's loyalty reached [[Ottawa]] and from there [[London]]; [[Queen Victoria]] praised Crowfoot and the Blackfoot for their loyalty.<ref>Dempsey, H. A. (1972). ''Crowfoot, Chief of the Blackfoot,'' (1st ed.). Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, P. 88-89</ref> Despite his threats, Crowfoot later met those Lakota who had fled with [[Sitting Bull]] into Canada after defeating [[George Armstrong Custer]] and his battalion at the [[Battle of Little Big Horn]]. Crowfoot considered the Lakota then to be refugees and was sympathetic to their strife, but retained his anti-war stance. Sitting Bull and Crowfoot fostered peace between the two nations by a ceremonial offering of tobacco, ending hostilities between them. Sitting Bull was so impressed by Crowfoot that he named one of his sons after him.<ref>Dempsey (1972). ''Crowfoot'', p. 91</ref>

The Blackfoot also chose to stay out of the [[North-West Rebellion]], led by the famous [[Métis]] leader [[Louis Riel]]. Louis Riel and his men added to the already unsettled conditions facing the Blackfoot by camping near them. They tried to spread discontent with the government and gain a powerful ally. The North-West Rebellion was made up mostly of Métis, [[Assiniboine people|Assiniboine]] (Nakota) and [[Cree|Plains Cree]], who all fought against European encroachment and destruction of Bison herds. The Plains Cree were one of the Blackfoot's most hated enemies; however, the two nations made peace when Crowfoot adopted [[Poundmaker]], an influential Cree chief and great peacemaker, as his son. Although he refused to fight, Crowfoot had sympathy for those with the rebellion, especially the Cree led by such notable chiefs as Poundmaker, [[Big Bear]], [[Wandering Spirit (Cree leader)|Wandering Spirit]] and [[Fine-Day]].<ref name="Dempsey 1972 pp. 188-192">Dempsey (1972), ''Crowfoot'', pp. 188–192</ref>

When news of continued Blackfoot neutrality reached Ottawa, [[Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne|Lord Lansdowne]], the governor general, expressed his thanks to Crowfoot again on behalf of the Queen back in London. The cabinet of [[John A. Macdonald]] (the current [[Prime Minister of Canada]] at the time) gave Crowfoot a round of applause.<ref name="Dempsey 1972 pp. 188-192"/>