Charcoal's World

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Born the son of a great Blackfoot leader, Charcoal's life in southwestern Alberta was shaped by the mountains and plains of his homeland, the Blood Indians. Unlike his ancestors, he could not freely enjoy this land. For millennia, his people coexisted with spirits, a bond that persisted despite the arrival of white settlers. Charcoal's act of killing his wife's lover, viewed as a crime by modern standards, was seen as a means of "saving face" and adhering to his people's laws. Major Samuel Benfield Steele of the North West Mounted Police, unaware of the Indian spirit world, perceived Charcoal merely as a murderer and was determined to capture him. The story of Charcoal is well-known among the Indians of southern Alberta, with their accounts aligning in many respects with the official reports from the North West Mounted Police, yet differing significantly in the interpretations of Charcoal's success and eventual downfall. Hugh A. Dempsey dedicated twenty-five years to researching Charcoal's story, examining government records and engaging with elders and historians from the Blood Reserve. The result is a compelling narrative that presents the Indian perspective on this significant confrontation between cultures. Originally published in 1978, this work draws on oral histories and archival materials to vividly portray a man's struggle for his beliefs, highlighting its compassion, historical significance, and tragic elements.