The Old Man in Blackfoot’s religion: A god battered by Paradoxes

Staff Writer

Table of Contents

To describe the Old Man in Blackfoot’s religion as a sage without good fortune is a contradiction in terms or better still, a decrepit god battered by his paradoxes. The notion of the Old Man otherwise known as “Na’pi” in Blackfoot’s religion is a central figure in Blackfeet cosmology.

The Blackfeet are a Native American tribe from the Great Plains. Some writers have reasoned that the Blackfoot tribe consists of four different groups of Native Americans. There are the Siksika, Kanai, and Northern Pikuni who live in Canada. The fourth group, the Amskapi Pikuni settled mainly in Montana. Some writers have suggested that there are about 16,000 registered members, with over 80,000 people claiming Blackfoot heritage.

Can the Old Man, who is a god be considered wise and foolish at the same time? Understood in this light confines the notion into a competing duality and excuses the Old Man from some behavioural flashes of oxymorons; that is showing some unfriendly wickedness to the people at one point, and caring sympathies at other times.

A god that is destined to fail or without any good fortune must not be ‘all-powerful’. A god can meet many difficulties, and challenges while navigating the events on his path; such difficulties are always surmountable. An example of this was the Old Man’s ability to create the earth and sustain the lives of the Blackfeet.  

Therefore, we will examine the concept of the Old Man in Blackfoot’s religion, and his creative power and emphasize his qualities regarding creation vis-à-vis the qualities of the Sun (the Supreme chief). Before, this essay progresses, let us examine the word ‘sage’ and see how the attribute ‘wise’ assigned to the Old Man undulates illogically as an essential characteristic.

In Ancient Greek philosophy, a sage (Sophos) is regarded as someone who has wisdom. The same word has been used to describe someone who is good (agathos), or a virtuous person (spoudaios). Therefore, a sage is considered a wise, good, or virtuous person. More often, the attribute ‘wise’ is reserved for the elderly, especially those with enormous understanding and insight than what an ordinary person can imagine or understand.

The word ‘wise’ can be defined as someone showing knowledge, experience, and good judgement. It could mean someone who is judicious, insightful, discerning, perceptive, rational, knowing, and shrewd.

With the attribute of ‘wisdom,’ the Old Man could possess ‘all and every’ of the characteristics mentioned above. Nevertheless, a god described as wise and foolish at the same time raises the question: what kind of god is he?

The Old Man in Blackfoot’s Religion

The Old Man or the “Na’pi” is a well-known icon or figure in the Blackfoot religion. He creates the tribe, the people, and their world. He is the source of their being. He is considered as holding all the magic and power in the world. Suzanne Rose describes him in her lesson notes:

The Old Man could be helpful to the Blackfoot, or he might play tricks on them to teach them a lesson.

Writing about his qualities, Justin Mitchell opined:

Sometimes, he is wise, other times, hapless. Sometimes he is dour and serious, but other times he is impishly mischievous. Sometimes he is caring and sympathetic to people, but other times he plays tricks on them.

In Access Genealogy, the Old Man is described as “a curious mixture of opposite attributes … in the serious tales, such as those of the creation, he is spoken of respectfully, and there is no hint of the impish qualities which characterize him in other stories, in which he is powerful, but also at times impotent” and in other cases, he is “full of all wisdom, yet at times so helpless that he has to ask aid from the animals.” The various citations above are insights into the inherent characteristics of the Old Man: strength and weakness, wisdom and folly, childishness, and malice.

Notwithstanding the weakness, impotence, and foolishness of the Old Man, he can never die. He is immortal. Legend has it that before he disappeared into the mountains, he promised the people that he would always take care of them and would return someday. The people anxiously not only wait for his return but also for the return of the buffalo, which they believed was hidden by the white men.

His Creative Powers

Reviewing the various texts about Blackfoot’s creative myths, they sound like the biblical account of the state of the universe before creation: Tohu wa-bohu. Their universe was in utter disorder and confusion and covered completely with water, but the Old Man and the animals were like jetsam on flotsam. Then, the Old Man measured out his qualities of knowing, and good judgement as well as adroitness. What did he do to save himself and the animals from their helpless situation? According to legend, the Old Man sent out various animals (beaver, loon, muskrat) to get mud from the depth of the water. While the beaver and loon failed only the muskrat returned with a lump of mud. The Old Man eventually used it to create the earth and humans.  

Corollary, it seems that his powers could not be mitigated by his weakness, nor his goodness by his malice. He may be wanting like mortals in terms of weakness, foolishness, malice or immaturity, but his wisdom and strength come into play when required. It is possible to refer to the Old Man as having two natures; one that is godlike and the other that is human-like. Otherwise, how can we account for his weakness, mischievousness, and immaturity, on one hand, and strength, wisdom, and goodness, on the other? We could be wrong.

According to the Blackfoot’s religion, the Old Man is considered as light personified: the beginning of the day and the beginning of life. Besides, the Old Man is “non-human and non-gendered.”

The Sun in Blackfoot’s Religion

Is the Old Man the Sun? Some say that there is evidence to suggest that the Old Man and the Sun are of the same entity, but the Sun is more important. Some others argue that in terms of attributes, the Sun is unlike the Old Man. In Blackfoot’s religion, the Sun plays a godlike role. While the Old Man is plagued by paradoxes, the Sun has more consistent benevolence and is considered the source of all good fortune.

As myth would have it, the Sun is considered a man, as against the Old Man who is viewed as “non-human and non-gendered.” The Sun is also the supreme chief of the world whose home is the earth and protected by the sky. Then, the moon is the Sun’s wife. Both have numerous children but were all killed by pelicans with only the morning star as a survivor.      

The notion of the Old Man in Blackfoot’s religion is an idea of a god battered by paradoxes. It is not out of place to meet paradoxes in some sacred texts or interpretations of the actions of gods. But to consider a few paradoxes as the inherent design makes the Old Man a different deity. The Old Man combines contradictory qualities, that is, one that is godlike and the other that is humanlike, it is not enough to balance the malignity of the mixture of opposites.  

The Sun who is viewed as a man (human) seems to have better qualities and attitudes towards the people, but the Old Man understood as a god, “non-human and non-gendered” is ill-starred and dwells in opposites.

Further readings

“The Religious Beliefs of the Blackfoot Tribe.” Classroom by Justin Mitchell, September 29, 2017. https://classroom.synonym.com/the-religious-beliefs-of-the-blackfoot-tribe-12087502.html (accessed February 7, 2021).

"Blackfoot Tribe Religion: Lesson for Kids." Study.com. July 20, 2017. https://study.com/academy/lesson/blackfoot-tribe-religion-lesson-for-kids.html (accessed February 7, 2021).

“Blackfeet Religion.” Access Genealogy. https://accessgenealogy.com/native/blackfeet-religion.htm (accessed February 7, 2021).

Dempsey, Hugh A., "Blackfoot Confederacy".  In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published December 06, 2010; Last Edited July 18, 2019. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/blackfoot-nation (accessed February 7, 2021). 

 

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