Crowfoot

For other uses, see Crowfoot (disambiguation).
Crowfoot
Isapo-Muxika / Issapóómahksika / ᖱᓭᑲᒉᖽᐧᖿᖷ
Chief Crowfoot ca. 1885
Chief Crowfoot ca. 1885
Bornc. 1830
Rupert's Land
Died25 April 1890 (aged 59–60)
Blackfoot Crossing, North-West Territories
Nationality
  • Siksika (adopted)
  • Kainai/Blood (born)
  • Blackfoot Confederacy
Other names
  • Shot close (baby name)
  • Bear Ghost (boy name)
  • Packs a Knife (former warrior name)
Known forChief of the Siksika First Nation, warrior, peacemaker
TitleChief of Siksika First Nation 1890
Parents
  • Istowun-ehʼpata (father)
  • Axkahp-say-pi (mother)
Relatives
  • Iron Shield (brother)
  • Three Bulls (adopted brother)
  • Scabby Bull (grandfather)
  • Crying Bear (uncle)

Crowfoot (c. 1830 – 25 April 1890) or Isapo-Muxika (Blackfoot: Issapóómahksika; syllabics: [ᖱᓭᑲᒉᖽᐧᖿᖷ] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |lit= (help))[1][2] was a chief of the Siksika. His father, Istowun-ehʼpata (Packs a Knife), and mother, Axkahp-say-pi (Attacked Towards Home), were Kainai. He was five years old when Istowun-ehʼpata was killed during a raid on the Crow tribe, and, a year later, his mother remarried to Akay-nehka-simi (Many Names) of the Siksika people among whom he was brought up.[3] Crowfoot was a warrior who fought in as many as nineteen battles and sustained many injuries, but he tried to obtain peace instead of warfare. Crowfoot is well known for his involvement in Treaty Number 7 and did much negotiating for his people. While many[who?] believe Chief Crowfoot had no part in the North-West Rebellion, he did in fact participate to an extent due to his son's connection to the conflict.[clarification needed][4] Crowfoot died of tuberculosis at Blackfoot Crossing on April 25, 1890. Eight hundred of his tribe attended his funeral, along with government dignitaries.[5] In 2008, Chief Crowfoot was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame where he was recognized for his contributions to the railway industry.[6] Crowfoot is well known for his contributions to the Blackfoot nation, and has many memorials to signify his accomplishments.

  1. ^ "blkft.html". Archived from the original on 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  2. ^ Ermineskin, Rachel; Howe, Darin M. (2005). On Blackfoot syllabics and the Law of Finals. 37th Algonquian Conference. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. pp. 1–8. hdl:1880/112322.
  3. ^ Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
  4. ^ Letter from E. Dewdney to John A MacDonald. Library and Archives Canada, John A MacDonald Corresponces. MG26 A, Reel C-1597, Page 90546.
  5. ^ Dempsey, Hugh A. (1957). The Early West. Edmonton: Historical Society of Alberta. p. 27. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-07-23.
  6. ^ "North America Railway Hall of Fame Inductee: Chief Crowfoot". 20 April 2022.