Pioch-Kiäiu, Piegan Blackfeet Man

Description

Pioch-Kiäiu ("Distant Bear") was drawn on August 21. A week later the Blackfeet camp at Fort McKenzie was attacked by 600 Assiniboin and Cree warriors, and many people were killed or injured. Pioch-Kiäiu was unharmed and declared to Bodmer that the drawing had protected him from the bullets. Pioch-Kiäiu's interesting profile was remarked on by Maximilian, who found the long chin an unusual Indian feature. The old man's gray hair is smeared with red clay or vermillion and bound into a forehead knot, which may indicate that he was a medicine man or keeper of a medicine pipe. The blue face paint is probably the same "earthy peroxide of iron" worn by the individual in Plate 247.