Fools Crow
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| Author | James Welch |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Contemporary American Fiction, Native American |
| Publisher | Viking |
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Publication date
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1986 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 391 pp (Paperback edition) |
| ISBN | (Paperback edition) |
| OCLC | 15366761 |
| 813/.54 19 | |
| LC Class | PS3573.E44 F66 1987 |
Fools Crow is a 1986 novel written by Native American author James Welch. Set in Montana shortly after the Civil War, this novel tells of White Man's Dog (later known as Fools Crow), a young Blackfeet Indian on the verge of manhood, and his band, known as the Lone Eaters. The invasion of white society threatens to change their traditional way of life, and they must choose to fight or assimilate. The story is a powerful portrait of a fading way of life. The story culminates with the historic Marias Massacre of 1870, in which the U.S. Cavalry mistakenly killed a friendly band of Blackfeet, consisting mostly of non-combatants.
Set in 1870, the novel is about the lives of the southern Blackfeet people. The main character, White Man's Dog, joins his friend Fast Horse in a night-time raid against the Crow. White Man's Dog is portrayed as weak and powerless. Because of that, he visits the medicine man. Yellow Kidney appoints White Man's Dog to lead the young warriors in stealing a herd of horses. White Man's Dog is first wary, but he sings his warrior songs to gain courage. As they drive the horses away from the village, a scout appears. White Man's Dog rushes in and kills the scout. Fast Horse shouts, by mistake awakening the village, and the Crow respond. Yellow Kidney hides in a lodge where he sees people sleeping. He hides beneath the robes (sleeping bag) of a young girl. He becomes aroused and rapes her before realizing she is dying of a disease they call White Scabs (smallpox). Trying to escape, Yellow Kidney is shot and captured by the Crow. They cut off his fingers, tie him to a horse, and send him out into a driving snowstorm.
White Man's Dog returns to his tribe and gains respect for the raid. Feeling responsible for the loss of Yellow Kidney, he begins to provide the youth's family with food and supplies. Yellow Kidney finally returns to camp and tells the story of Fast Horse's error. Shamed, Fast Horse leaves the tribe, joining Owl Child and his renegade band in killing the encroaching Napikwans (white people).
While Yellow Kidney was missing, his wife Heavy Shield Woman, vowed that if he returned, she would prepare and act as the Medicine Woman at the Sun Dance. This was an unusual request as "...most bands did not like to have a woman declare herself for this role; if she failed, it would bring dishonor on them and disfavor from Sun Chief himself..." (p 44) After Yellow Kidney returned, White Man's Dog went to other bands to gain consent for Heavy Shield Woman to act as the Medicine Woman. Later he married Red Paint, the daughter of Heavy Shield Woman and Yellow Kidney.
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