43 Facts About Crowfoot

Crowfoot was five years old when was killed during a raid on the Crow tribe, and, a year later, his mother remarried to of the Siksika people among whom he was brought up.

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.

Crowfoot died of tuberculosis at Blackfoot Crossing on April 25,1890.

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.

Crowfoot is well known for his contributions to the Blackfoot nation, and has many memorials to signify his accomplishments.

Chief Crowfoot was born in 1830 to the Kainai, known to traders and settlers as the Bloods, one of the tribes of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Crowfoot followed his new father and mother to the Siksika on foot for several hours, eventually causing the two to turn around and bring both the young Crowfoot and his grandfather Scabby Bull with them to the Blackfoot tribe.

Crowfoot was known to provide food to those who needed it in his tribe.

Crowfoot worked hard to build relations between the Blackfoot and the agents of different organizations that came into their lands, such as the Hudson's Bay Company and the North-West Mounted Police.

Crowfoot became a good friend of HBC trader Richard Charles Hardisty who was in charge of Rocky Mountain House.

Crowfoot refused this offer, understanding that his people and the Sioux together were not strong enough to stand for long against the strength of the United States military and the Canadian government.

Crowfoot had a total of 10 wives throughout his life, but never more than four at a time.

Crowfoot had many children with his wives, but only four of them lived to adulthood: one son, who was blind, and three daughters.

At one point Crowfoot had a son that showed potential as a warrior and leader but he was killed in his early teenage years in a battle against the Cree.

Crowfoot vowed to avenge the death of his son and personally led a raid against a nearby Cree camp to kill one Cree tribe member.

Crowfoot knew that the rebel fighters were fighting a losing battle, but on the other hand his adopted son Poundmaker was deeply involved in the conflict.

Crowfoot was aware of the fact that the Blackfoot were not treated much better by the Metis who were then fighting the Canadian government.

However, after much debate Crowfoot did choose to back the Crown, though he continued to remain as removed as he could.

Crowfoot sent Lieutenant Governor Edgar Dewdney a letter asking him to grant Poundmaker a pardon.

Crowfoot's request was denied, and Poundmaker was found guilty and sentenced to serve three years in a penitentiary.

Crowfoot ended up serving only six months and was released at the request of Dewdney.

The refusal by Crowfoot to provide aid to the rebellion made the Canadian government regard him as a potentially useful ally for negotiating treaties with the Blackfoot and other First Nations.

Crowfoot thus had a greater reputation as a diplomat than these chiefs and though he always made sure they were consulted in making decisions, he did not feel at all uncomfortable playing the role of supreme commander.

Crowfoot was levelheaded in his consideration of the offerings in the treaty.

Crowfoot did not want to give up land only to see the white man and the Metis force out and kill the bison.

When Red Crow finally came, he spent the night with Crowfoot who relayed the terms being offered.

Crowfoot left the next morning to council with the other Blood chiefs.

At this point, Crowfoot denounced the government employees for their mistreatment of the Blackfoot people.

Crowfoot declared that he would turn Bull Elk over when he would receive a fair trial.

Crowfoot was furious, and led these men to confront Superintendent Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier, the commanding NWMP officer for this area.

Crowfoot resisted his temptations to unleash his men on the outnumbered Canadians.

Crowfoot knew that vengeance would be only a temporary satisfaction that would soon turn to despair as the Canadians would return in greater numbers looking to spill blood, just as they done to the Metis under Louis Riel.

Crowfoot sent the men home, and Bull Elk was tried and found not guilty of theft.

Crowfoot knew that the Blackfoot people's patience could not be tested for much longer, and if no changes were made then bloodshed was inevitable.

Crowfoot oversaw the resignation of Norman Macleod, the agent in charge of the tribes of Treaty 7, and replaced him with Cecil Denny, an NWMP officer stationed at Fort Walsh.

Crowfoot was familiar with Denny and knew him as a good man, welcoming the news of his appointment.

Crowfoot made certain that food supplies were adequate, prohibited the sale of animal parts and meat, and commissioned for farm tools and implements to be brought in and the ploughing of fields once spring came.

In 2014 at the Blackfoot Historical Crossing Park, a project brought back several artifacts of Chief Crowfoot's including a deerskin jacket, bow and arrow and pipe.

In 2020, Crowfoot was one of eight finalists for the $5 polymer bills in Canada.

Crowfoot was the subject of a ten-minute 1968 National Film Board of Canada documentary The Ballad of Crowfoot, directed by Willie Dunn.

The film explores the situation of aboriginal people in North America through the story of Crowfoot, featuring a montage of archival photographs, etchings, and newspaper clippings, set against a ballad by Dunn, a Mi'kmaq singer and songwriter.

The Ballad of Crowfoot has sometimes been credited as the first known Canadian music video.