Book
The old north trail: or, Life, legends and religion of the Blackfeet Indians
University of Nebraska Press • Lincoln • Published In 1968 • Pages:
By: McClintock, Walter.
Abstract
This travelers account, written by Walter McClintock, a member of the U.S. Forest Service, presents a first-hand descriptive report on the Blackfoot Indians. The data were collected during the first four years (1896-1900) that McClintock lived and traveled among the North and South Peigan, Blood and Northern Blackfoot divisions of the Blackfoot Tribe. Through directed and informal interviews and participant observation, information was gathered on Blackfoot inter-divisional contacts (including the formation of large camps for ceremonials), history, subsistence activities and religion (including a number of the medicine ceremonials), as well as life-histories of several prominent chiefs and medicine men and numerous texts of legends, songs, prayers, myths and stories. McClintock became the adopted son of Mad Wolf, a prominent chief; this position facilitated participation by the author in tribal and inter-tribal activities. The concluding chapter, written after observing the Blackfoot 14 years after the author's first visit, discusses the rapidity and extent of culture change resulting from, in part, White contact and the U.S. government's policy. The appendices include Blackfoot music, explanation of terms used by the author and terminology for and uses of various plants.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1999
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Plains and Plateau
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Traveler
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Sarah T. Bridges ; 1974
- Field Date
- 1896-1910
- Coverage Date
- not specified
- Coverage Place
- northwestern Montana, United States; southern Alberta, Canada
- Notes
- Walter McClintock
- 'A Bison Book'
- Reprint of the 1910 ed.
- Includes unacc. melodies
- Includes index
- LCCN
- 68013651
- LCSH
- Siksika Indians