Chief Shot-Both-Sides Saves the Reserve
In the 20's the Kanini Reserve was frauded by a faction of dishonest Caucasians. They nearly accomplished a coup to take over half of the lands from the Bloods.
Shot Both Sides was not just the Chief of his people but passionately defended their rights in all realms of existence. He was a spiritual leader who held the highest of sacred items in his lodge, the Long Time Medicine Pipe, Sun Lodge Hide, an ancient sword of his ancestors; Buffalo head tipi, Horn Headdress, Buffalo Stone Necklace, Black Seizers wristlets, Medicine Drum and the Weasel Tail Robe. To hold these items denoted the highest prestige and honor.
Even though many injustices had been perpetuated upon the real people by Caucasians, he did not judge white men in a negative way. He realized that there were also noble Caucasians, yet he kept a vigilant watch over all governmental negotiations knowing the reserve was the only sanctuary his people had. The lands that had been targeted for theft held the richest farm land, irrigation, gas, oil, coal, precious stones and ancient sacred medicine wheel sites.
Even during his battle to retain the land, and afterwards, many of his Blackfeet people were never aware of what had transpired. His humble way dictated that the incident be left to antiquity rather than cause alarm for his beloved Blood Tribesmen.
The mixed blood line faction of the Bloods is clearly a part of the tribal structure. But there have been incidences when their focus was less than desired by those of the old ways. In the tribal structure, there is the main chief, generally a full blood, then minor chiefs.
In the 20's the Kanini Reserve was frauded
In the 20's the Kanini Reserve was frauded by a faction of dishonest Caucasians. They nearly accomplished a coup to take over half of the lands from the Bloods. Chief Shot Both Sides discovered their attempt and contacted attorneys to represent his people. Using his own personal funds, he fought valiantly against the further usurping of his rightful territories.
The Caucasians tried to turn the tide of the Kainai with falsehoods to gain momentum by a legal vote of the people. When the referendum was complete, the vote indicated that the Bloods had voted to give up their land. Chief Shot Both Sides had this vote investigated and learned that the names on the ballots were of many who could not possibly vote. The names were of deceased individuals, some names of children far too young to vote and other absurdities.
The investigation overturned the referendum and the evidence was sent to Ottawa, Canada for further study. The fraudulent representatives were negated and scorned upon governmental perusal of their documents.
Chief Shot Both Sides called his people together at the banks of the St. Mary's River to address them regarding their sovereignty and land rights. He bent down and gathered a handful of hay in his left hand, then scooped up a fist full of dirt in his right hand. Waving the hay in the air he commanded, "This we sell to them freely as it was given to us by Creator for this reason." Extending his right arm out towards his people he opened up his fist exposing the rich soil in the palm of his hand. He paused for awhile looking out over the crowd and shouted, "This we NEVER sell for it or council members, who operate as the official administrators.
The Big Lease
Thousands of acres of prime farm land of the Kainai were leased to the government for training purposes for the Air Force. After WWII, the land was returned to the Bloods. Chief Shot Both Sides clearly wanted to keep the land available to his people but the mixed blood council members outvoted the old lineage Bloods and made the land available to be leased by wealthy Caucasian farmers. It's called "The Big Lease," and considered by some to be one of the largest parcels of land leased in one area in Canada. Since around 1948 the prime land on the reserve has been occupied by interlopers, yet still not owned by them. However, for all practical purposes it is out of the hands of the original owners who need it.
When the land eroded due to the leasers over use of it through strip farming, it was demanded that the Bloods provide a new water source. At that time the Blood Council had to access funding to dam the St. Mary's river. Then they channeled the water to the leased land. No water was made available to the struggling Blood Tribe farmers. It remains generally unavailable to them to this day. Very few natives endeavor to farm any more due to these obstacles. Approximately 95% of the farm land is farmed by Caucasians.
In this same area, the rich oil fields were located running in a strip across the reserve East to West. The Northeast area of the reserve is wealthy in oil, rare ammonite fossil stones, coal, and continued finds of ancient artifacts and fossils. The oil company share holders receive the bulk of the profits from the oil wells, with only a small percentage of the profit going to the Bloods.
Today in 2026, the entire reserve is still held by Kainai Tribesmen, not one acre is owned by any other faction. This is unlike most reservations across North America where land was unprotected and sold to others. Although there are farms, ranches and businesses run by Caucasians, this is done by lease agreement only. The reserve might well be the only remaining reservation in the Americas held solely by natives.
Shot-On-Both-Sides
The following tribute was written about the chief by S.H. Middleton, the same Anglican priest who wrote the account of the Bloods and gave Ba-ti-ga-sa-pi his English name:
Shot-On-Both-Sides
Head Chief of the Bloods
Kainai Chieftainship
By The Ven. Archdeacon S. H. Middleton,
E.D. B.Sc., D.D.
ANCIENT AND MODERN
Shot-on-Both-Sides, Head Chief of the Blood tribe And Honorary President of the Kainai Chieftainship, was born in the spring of 1873, four years before the signing of Treaty Number Seven in 1877, and is a worthy descendent from a line of famous warriors. A son of Crop Eared-Wolf, and grandson of the noted brave and leader, Red Crow, the robe of head chief fell about his shoulders at the death of his father in 1913. A member of the powerful Horn Society, he presides with grace and innate dignity at all tribal council meetings and has a background of true 'Indianism' which few possess today. A firm believer in progressive education, he watches keenly every endeavor of the youth movement, yet retains the tribal characteristics of his race by maintaining compromise with dignity and complacency with strength.
The repository of the mythology and folklore of his people, he has passed through the Horn Society no less than eight times; through the Black Seizers twice, and has passed progressively through the soldier societies, the Doves, the Braves, the Crazy Dogs, the Crow Carriers and the Mosquitoes. Amongst the sacred objects entrusted to him are the sacred bundles of the Buffalo Stone Necklace; the wristlets of the Black Seizers; the Horn headdress; the Weasel-tail robe; the Buffalo-head tepee; the Long-Time -Medicine-Pipe; the Sun-Lodge Hide, and various other articles, including an ancient sword and medicine drum. To the Bloods stocks and bonds mean nothing, yet the ownership of these sacred articles denotes great wealth and much prestige.
From the white man's standpoint Shot-on-Both-Sides is not educated, never having attended school or been taught by white teachers. Yet, withal, his penetrating mind and direct application to personal and tribal problems gives evidence of a dual personality which is both ancient in tradition and modern in application. Now, during the eventide of his life, he has exchanged the bow for the plough-share, and turned from the buffalo of his fathers to the white man's "spotted buffalo" and flock. In short, he is a successful farmer, a wise and cautious administrator; a lover of his people, and an ardent admirer and friend of his white colleagues.
Chief Shot-on-Both-Sides, Head Chief of the Bloods, and worthy successor to Red Crow, has led, and is still leading, his progressive tribesmen to ideals of greater citizenship yet to be realized.
