Tsin-ik-sis’-tso-yiks Early Finished Eating.

Kut’-ai-im-iks They Don’t Laugh.

I’-pok-si-maiks Fat Roasters.

Sik’-o-kit-sim-iks Black Doors.

Ni-taw’-yiks Lone Eaters.

Ap’-i-kai-yiks Skunks.

Mi-ah-wah’-pit-siks Seldom Lonesome.

Nit’-ak-os-kit-si-pup-iks Obstinate.

Nit’-ik-skiks Lone Fighters.

I-nuks’-iks Small Robes.

Mi-aw’-kin-ai-yiks Big Topknots.

Esk’-sin-ai-tup-iks Worm People.

I-nuk-si’-kah-ko-pwa-iks Small Brittle Fat.

Kah’-mi-taiks Buffalo Dung.

Kut-ai-sot’-si-man No Parfleche.

Ni-tot’-si-ksis-stan-iks Kill Close By.

Mo-twai’-naiks All Chiefs.

Mo-kum’-iks Red Round Robes.

Mo-tah’-tos-iks Many Medicines.

It will be readily seen from the translations of the above that each gens takes its name from some peculiarity or habit it is supposed to possess.  It will also be noticed that each tribe has a few gentes common to one or both of the other tribes.  This is caused by persons leaving their own tribe to live with another one, but, instead of uniting with some gens of the adopted tribe, they have preserved the name of their ancestral gens for themselves and their descendants.

The Blackfoot terms of relationship will be found interesting.  The principal family names are as follows:—­

My father Ni’-nah.

My mother Ni-kis’-ta.

My elder brother Nis’-ah

My younger brother Nis-kun’.

My older sister Nin’-sta.

My younger sister Ni-sis’-ah.

My uncle Nis’-ah.

My aunt Ni-kis’-ta.

My cousin, male Same as brother.

My cousin, female Same as sister.

My grandfather Na-ahks’.

My grandmother Na-ahks’.

My father-in-law Na-ahks’.

My mother-in-law Na-ahks’.

My son No-ko’-i.

My daughter Ni-tun’.

My son-in-law Nis’-ah.

My daughter-in-law Ni-tot’-o-ke-man.