Tom Lydon (American, B. 1944) "Crowfoot" Signed lower left. Original Chalk on Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the Canada 34c Crowfoot stamp issued September 5, 1986. Crowfoot was the Head Chief of the united Canadian Blackfoot tribes. He was born about 1836, the son of Many Names -- a Blackfoot tribal chief -- and Writing Woman -- a Blood Indian. Named Bear Ghost in his youth, Crowfoot took part in his first raid when he was thirteen. Soon after attaining full manhood, he became a respected and feared warrior among the Blackfoot and Crow Indians. He fought in nineteen battles and was wounded in six. His first significant contact with Canada's white settlers came in 1866 when he rescued Father Albert Lacombe from a hostile band of Cree Indians who were at war with the Crows. As he grew in tribal stature, Crofoot realized the folly of intertribal warfare and persuaded the Blackfoot tribes to join together. As a result, at the signing of the Treaty of the Seven in 1877, Crowfoot was made Head Chief of the Blackfoot nation. That same year he received a commendation from Queen Victoria and the Canadian government for refusing to join with American Blackfoot chief Sitting Bull in hostilities against white settlers. He received a pension from the Canadian Pacific Railroad for aiding survey parties crossing his territories in 1883. Crowfoot ruled the Blackfoot nation wisely and even in his later years, he commanded the respect of younger tribal leaders -- especially his adopted son chief Poundmaker -- when he forbade his people to engage in the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 20 x 17.25 in. Unframed. (B10545) See More