Blackfeet Nation Delegation of 35 Adopts NYC Mayor Walker in 1927 Ceremony

New York City witnessed a unique cultural exchange on October 21, 1927, as a delegation of 35 members of the Blackfeet Nation, including men, women, and children, visited City Hall. The visit culminated in a ceremonial adoption of Mayor James J. Walker, who was bestowed with the name A-Ka-Ki-To-Pi, meaning "Big Chief Many Rider," by the tribal leaders. The delegation was en route home to Glacier National Park following their participation in "The Fair of the Iron Horse," the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Centenary Exhibition and Pageant in Halethorpe, Maryland.

The Blackfeet group had been a prominent feature at the B&O Centenary, which celebrated 100 years of American railroading from September 24 to October 16. Their presence in the pageant showcased early forms of transportation, with tribal members riding horses, providing a historical and cultural dimension to the exhibition. The Great Northern Railway, which had previously facilitated a Blackfeet visit in 1913 for tourism promotion, also played a role in their eastern tour.

At the City Hall ceremony, Chief Two Guns White Calf, a notable figure whose profile was said to adorn buffalo nickels, led the proceedings. Chief Bird Rattler placed a traditional headdress upon Mayor Walker's head, symbolizing his new tribal affiliation. According to a report from The New York Times, the Blackfeet attempted to teach the mayor Indian sign language, though it was noted they were "unsuccessful."

Beyond the official adoption, the Blackfeet delegation engaged with New York City's urban landscape. They expressed a particular interest in observing "the white man's ways of warfare," leading them to attend a Military Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The visit also included a dinner at the Hotel McAlpin, where they were staying, followed by a radio appearance on Station WMCA, further broadening their interaction with the public.

This highly publicized visit underscored a period of complex cultural representation and exchange between Native American nations and mainstream American society. The Blackfeet's journey from their Montana reservation to participate in a national historical pageant and then engage with one of the nation's largest cities highlighted both the enduring cultural identity of the Blackfeet Nation and the public's fascination with Indigenous traditions.