Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 60/Review: The Blackfeet: Raiders of the Northwestern Plains
Like most other publications in the American Indian series of the University of Oklahoma Press, The Blackfeet, by John C. Ewers, is primarily historic in content. Since John Ewers is a professional anthropologist the book treats the Blackfeet cultural background and the effects of white contacts with a depth not usually found in this series of books. It is more of a history than just a mere recitation of details on Indian battles, treaties, and tearful statements of chiefs who lamented the passing of the old ways or the increasing impoverishment of their people when whites arrived.
The casual reader will find it informative, yet easy to read. Much of its contents is original data and researchers in problems involving Indians of the Northwest will find this publication essential to an understanding of the events which helped mold the history of this region.
The story begins with the Blackfeet first noted occupying the western portion of Saskatchewan. During the centuries to follow, however, they were forced westward to the foothills of the Rockies. Ultimately their aggressive war parties intruded into Oregon, Washington and Idaho almost with impunity.
In the first chapter Ewers presents glimpses of the Blackfeet and their neighbors as they lived in aboriginal times. The description is interrupted briefly with a description of the first entry of whites into their lives. The vignette of Blackfeet aboriginal life is in part drawn from Ewers' original notes acquired when he lived among these people in Browning, Montana. (He is now with the U. S. National Museum.)
Subsequent chapters are given colorful titles, but are still descriptive of the major historic events in chronological order. Thus, there is one on "Black Robe Medicine Men," "Travels Far Afield," "Lame Bull's Treaty," "Life With Father" (Indian Agents), "Massacre On The Marias," "Whisky Traders, Redcoats, and the Law," "The Tail of the Last Buffalo," "Trading Land for a Living," and "Learning To Walk Alone."
Ewers ties the historic events with the daily lives and activities of the Indians. This is something which is ordinarily lacking in the usual account of the changing life of the natives. It is outstanding in the American Indian Series of the University of Oklahoma Press, and it should remain an excellent source of data on the Blackfeet Indians for many years.
Carling Malouf