Revolutionizing Temperament
The connected spiritual devotion of the Pikunis Lone Eaters is influential in James
Welch's novel Fools Crow. Through the representation of the Pikunis, subconscious
imagery of nature, combined with their struggles dealing with the strong and threatening
emergence of the Napikwans , Fools Crow and Fast Horse subsequently determined their fate.
Clearly interested in achieving the same level of respect an honor within their community,
they set out on one of the first real changes of their adult lives. The raid on the Crow
encampment starts a chain of commitments and choices that Fools Crow follows in favor of
the growth in him and the future of his people. Meanwhile, Fast Horse quickly transitions
from a strong community prospect into a self-serving man, denouncing his heritage and
culture. Each of their visions and judgment to address them carry consequences and lasting
repercussions within the Lone Eaters. Fools Crow and Fast Horse believe in the dreams and
visions they have, but it is the course of action, in response to them, that ultimately
and profoundly effect the strength of their personal growth.
Fast Horse's failure to concede to the instruction in his dream of the Cold Maker and
his daughters, becomes his foundation of excuse for his actions throughout the story. Just
before the raid on the Crow camp Fast Horse speaks of a dream, he had. He is to find a
specific ice spring blocked by a large rock and move the rock so the Cold Maker can drink
from it. In return, Cold Maker will aid in the raid on the Crows with allowing great
success for all, "If you do this for me, I will make your raid successful" (14).
Cold Maker also extends threat on all with him, not just Fast Horse, if this deed is not
done for him, "If you don't, you must not go on, for I will punish you and your
party" (14). It was right to make his peers aware of this dream, and they believed
it, but it was Fast Horse that cast doubt onto the men, while their beliefs stay intact,
"Yellow Kidney questioned not the dream but the dreamer" (21). Fast Horse was
known for having a "big mouth" and being extremely overconfident, not at all a
pleasing quality to any culture, "The nature of Fast Horse to be loud and boastful
and to hurt others" (85). This played hard on Yellow Kidney when Fast Horse's
cockiness took over when in the Crow camp, drawing attention on him and finally Yellow
Kidney, "Oh, you Crows are puny, your horses are puny and your women make me
sick!" (73). Fast Horse ended up getting away unharmed but Yellow Kidney was
captured, mutilated, and sent out of the camp to die in the cold. To return later to speak
of the appalling actions of Fast Horse and the consequences he suffered from them. Fast
Horse was steady turning away, defying the belief his people holds in dreams and vows.
Fools Crow sees the change in Fast Horse and tries to connect back with his friend by
offering assistance in fulfilling his vow to Cold Maker. Fast Horse carries the guilt of
his actions so deeply, her even turns away his childhood friends help, "I don't need
you-or anybody, I am a man and have done no wrong" (50). The weight of the Cold Maker
vows push Fast Horse to challenge Cold Maker, but I see this as a challenge on his whole
belief system, looking for some validity to it, "And then he grew bitter and he hated
his people and all they believed in" (71). Not trusting his family and friends
anymore he sees Owl Child's view to his liking and chooses to leave his home in efforts to
fight and disrupt the Napikwans, and to help relieve the guild her carries about Yellow
Kidney. He ends up alone, allowing so personal revelation come to light. For awhile he
cast blame on Cold Maker, "He had told himself many times that it was his failure to
find the ice spring of Cold Maker that made everything go bad" (330), using the same
excuse to justify the horrific tragedy that befell Yellow Kidney.
n his solitude, that changed and his awareness of his own choices and consequences were
revealed, "But know he knew that it was he, and he alone, who created the disaster
that led to Yellow Kidney's fall" (330). Fools Crow had always known in his heart
that Fast Horse was responsible for Yellow Kidney, "Fast Horse! It was out of mouth
before White Man's Dog could think" (74). Unlike Fast Horse from the time of that
first raid on the Crows, Fools Crow was reserved about sharing his dream. Fools Crow's
dream just before the raid on the Crows was new and inviting to him, but he still would
end up with a sense of danger from it. He dreamed of white faces women inside a tent that
reached out for him. He found it exciting. Dreaming of women wanting him, it still let him
feeling uneasy, "He had had many dreams of desire, he welcomed them, but this one was
different…He wanted to go the white-faced girl but knew that there was danger in that
directions" (18). Yellow Kidney final returns to the Lone Eaters, and tells the tale
of his misfortune, describing the tale of Fools Crow's dream, "He had been there in
his dream and the girl, the white-faced girl, had lifted her arms, not for him but for
Yellow Kidney" (76). This helped reinforce Fools Crow belief in the true nature of
his dreams and visions and the seriousness to follow and share them.
Fools Crow carries out the difficult vow he made to the Sun Chief for his safe return
from the raid. With his heighten understanding about his own visions and dreams he sees
the vital importance of completing his vow. Still looking towards his God for the strength
to survive, "Finally, he asked Sun to give him strength and courage to endure his
torture" (116). That night he had a dream that furthered his connection with nature
and made him stronger.
Fools Crow dreamed of helping the wolverine for the second time, earning a battle song
to give him strength in times of need. This dream, also led into his desire for his
near-mother Kills-close-to-the-lake. Being there nearly equal in age, he's always carried
youthful urges towards her. I see this is a final release of youth. His fulfillment of the
agonizing requirements, for the vow he game the Sun Chief, physically proved himself and
the dream helped purge old feelings to make way for new feelings with his wife Red Paint.
Truly committed to the truths that visions lead to and the rewards that they provide he
continues to follow them with no question.
Spawn by a dream Fools Crow embarks on a three day, non-stop ride guided by his dream.
Traveling as a, "poor beggar" (316), he dedicates himself so intently he doesn't
stop for anything, proving his worthiness. He ends up in a place unknown to him. Its sunny
and quiet, he knows this is the place he had to go. It was a big valley with no entry and
no exit, he felt a bit of apprehension there, "He wondered at the silence, the
stillness of the air" (327). He feels that this journey maybe more for his people
rather than himself, "I myself do not understand, but if my journey is successful,
perhaps it will help the Lone Eaters find a direction?" (316). Upon waiting,
"This waiting was part of the journey" (334), he began to get fearful and
re-evaluate is belief in the skunk bear and course of the journey, fearing death,
"And today you wish to steal my life too" (335). Eventually the woman reveals
herself to be Feather Woman.
Fools Crow is indeed in a completely different world. This woman, Feather Woman, she
lives they're in mourning, from her sins. From Feather Woman, Fools Crow has been made
aware of the possible fates pertaining to the future of his people, "You have to see
something" (359). The future he sees is filled with despair and chaos. He hopes to
help his people find their distinctiveness and not lose that culture. She has given him
the vision to help and change the possible course of a tragic future for the Lone Eaters.
He has now the opportunity to make that difference, "There is much good you can do
for your people" (359). Acting now on the recourse of his vision Fools Crow can help
lead his people out of fates death touch and help preserve your way of life, "You can
prepare them for the times to come" (359). He returned back home with this sense of
change.
Fools Crow found peace from his trip, but didn't disregard the great gift that had been
given him. He was now the keeper of the knowledge and had to fulfill the legacy that it is
to pass on the stories of his time. He is to teach the following generations to live with
the dignity and honor of their Gods, with equal and faithful standards such as they. Fast
Horse's personal condemnation had found its loneliness among the lonely, in the evolving
Napikaws community. His lack of faith in his tradition values ended up being his undoing.
It's those traditions that bound our community from one generation to the next, keeping
the ideas and beliefs of our history alive within ourselves. Fools Crow truly had
traversed his realms of boyhood wonder into a world were his contributions are significant
in the existence of his very people, the Lone Eaters.
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