The Blood People

The Blood Indians are the northern most of the three principal divisions of the Blackfoot Nation. Located on an isolated reserve in Alberta, Canada, the Bloods have been able to maintain their traditional way of life longer into the Twentieth Century than most other tribes. Even today, their annual Sun Dance ceremony is a profoundly religious event unmarred by the country fair commercialism which has invaded similar gatherings on so many other reservations. Adolf Hungry Wolf came to the Bloods as a stranger many years ago and has remained with them. He has renounced his former way of life -the white way-and has chosen the Blood way as his own. He has in turn been accepted and chosen by them to receive instruction in their religion from tribal elders. He is now a keeper of one of their Sacred Medicine Bundles. In this remarkable and sensitive book, Hungry Wolf describes the Blood's history from their last days as a totally free people to the present. His extensive sources include many previously unpublished narratives written by early traders and missionaries, together with numerous first person stories of war parties, ceremonies and other events which he personally obtained in taped interviews with the old people. In addition, the book is profusely illustrated with striking photographs of the Blood PeopIe and their camps from the mid-1800's up to the present.