Heather Bliss linguistic research on the Blackfoot language, 2009-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bliss, Heather
Title
Heather Bliss linguistic research on the Blackfoot language
Dates
2009-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.31 cubic feet (2 boxes including 11 CDs and 1 flash drive)
Collection Number
2696-136
Summary
Linguistic research on the Blackfoot language by a recipient of the Jacobs Research Funds
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Access restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Languages
English, Siksika

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Heather Bliss was a Ph.D. student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of British Columbia. She has been awarded multiple Jacobs Research Fund grants, where she mainly focused on the Blackfoot language. She is also the former Research Coordinator of the eNunciate Project in the Department of Linguistics at the University of British Columbia.

[Adapted from information found on Bliss's website: https://sites.google.com/site/drheatherbliss/home.]

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Children of the Plains, the Siksikai’tsitapi (Blackfoot People), have lived in and protected a territory that stretches from the North Saskatchewan River in present day Alberta and Saskatchewan to the Yellowstone River in the state of Montana, from the Continental Divide in the west to Regina in the province now known as Saskatchewan. Today, Siksika Nation population is approximately 7,800 and is part of the Siksikaitsitapi – Blackfoot Confederacy. The Siksikaitsitapi refers to four Indigenous Nations which make up the Blackfoot people: the Siksika (Blackfoot), the Kainai (Many Chiefs), the Apatohsipiikani (Northern Peigan) and Amsskapipiikani (Southern Peigan). Siksikai’powahsini (Blackfoot Language) is the language of the Siksikaitsitapi.

[Information adapted from “About” section of the Siksika Nation Tribal Administration’s official website; Date Accessed: 09/22/2023]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

11 CDs containing typed field notes and digital recordings of the Blackfoot language, 1 flash drive containing photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings of conversations held among speakers of the Siksika dialect of Blackfoot on the Siksika reserve, and a final research evaluation.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Jacobs Research Funds linguistic research collection.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyrights retained by creator. Contact Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 2696-136-01, Heather Bliss linguistic research on the Blackfoot language, 2009-2011
  • Accession No. 2696-136-02, Heather Bliss linguistic research on the Blackfoot language, 2012-2016

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 2696-136-01: Heather Bliss linguistic research on the Blackfoot language, 2009-2011Return to Top

0.12 cubic ft. (1 box including 8 CDs)

Scope and Content: 8 CDs containing typed field notes and digital recordings of the Blackfoot language. Content of the recordings includes discussion of linguistic structure of the Blackfoot language as well as narratives and conversations.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Restrictions on Use: Copyrights retained by creator. Contact Special Collections for details.

Acquisition Info: Heather Bliss, 2011-12-20

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
1 Disc 1
Blackfoot language elicitation with Beatrice Bullshields
CD
Scope and Content: 13 .wav files; 7 .pdf files
March 5-May 21, 2009
1 Disc 2
Blackfoot stories and language elicitation with Beatrice Bullshields
CD
Scope and Content: Transcription and translation notes for "Sled Story", and "The Basin"; 6 .png files; 7 .pdf files; 4 .wav files; 2 .docx files
May 7-November 19, 2009
1 Disc 3
Recordings of Rachel Ermineskin and Noreen Breaker
CD
Scope and Content: Napi stories, elicitations relating to stories about their children, adolescence, grandparents, weather ; 9 .wav files; 1 .docx file
July 21-29, 2009
1 Disc 4
Blackfoot language elicitation with Beatrice Bullshields
CD
Scope and Content: Elicitations for words relating to various animals; yes/no questions; wh-questions; imperatives; 'just' contexts (without alternatives); 29 .wav files; 3 .pdf files
December 3, 2009-April 13, 2010
1 Disc 5
Blackfoot language elicitation with Rachel Ermineskin and Louis Soop
CD
Scope and Content: 2 .wav files; 2 .pdf files
February 11-15, 2011
1 Disc 6
Blackfoot language elicitation with Rachel Ermineskin
CD
Scope and Content: 2 .wav files
February 14, 2011
1 Disc 7
Blackfoot language elicitation with Rachel Ermineskin
CD
Scope and Content: 2 .wav files
March 30, 2011
1 Disc 8
Blackfoot language elicitation with Rachel Ermineskin
CD
Scope and Content: Possessed nouns, linkers, various translations of the perfect, phonology, nominalizations; 3 .pdf files; 2 .wav files
March 31, 2011

Accession No. 2696-136-02: Heather Bliss linguistic research on the Blackfoot language, 2012-2016Return to Top

0.19 cubic feet (1 box including 3 CDs and 1 flash drive)

Scope and Content: Linguistic research on "The Syntax of Nominal Expressions in Blackfoot," includes a final research evaluation and 3 compact discs containing field notes and audio recording for elicitation sessions with Beatrice Bullshields and Rachel Ermineskin between March 2012 and June 2013. Flash drive containing photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings of conversations held among speakers of the Siksika dialect of Blackfoot on the Siksika reserve during the period of August 2015 through September 2016. Audio recordings of speakers Noreen Breaker, Fred Breaker, Larry Leather, Roslyn Manyguns, Rod Scout; researchers: Heather Bliss and Inge Genee on August 27-28, 2015. Audio recordings of Noreen Breaker and Fred Breaker, December 8-9, 2015, and audio recordings of Rachel Ermineskin and Roslyn Manyguns, September 30, 2016.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Restrictions on Use: Copyrights retained by creator. Contact Special Collections for details.

Acquisition Info: Heather Bliss, 2014-01-20

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Siksika Indians
  • Siksika language--Research

Personal Names

  • Bliss, Heather--Archives

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Jacobs Research Funds (sponsoring body)