DO NOT ANNOTATE - Document A

Three Piegan Blackfeet on horseback. Europeans introduced horses to continental North

America in the 16th century. By the 18th century, horses had revolutionized life for tribes on
the Great Plains as they mastered their use for hunting and warfare. Many tribes on the
Plains, including the Piegan Blackfeet, became increasingly nomadic after the introduction
of horses, traveling hundreds of miles on horseback to hunt bison.

Title: Three Piegan Indians and four horses on the hill above the river
Date: 1910
Photographer: Edward Curtis
 DO NOTE ANNOTATE - Document B

A Piegan Blackfoot village. Like many tribes of the Great Plains, the Piegan Blackfeet
utilized tipis to support their semi-nomadic lifestyle. Tipis could be disassembled and moved
quickly as the tribe followed bison herd migrations.

Title: Piegan encampment

Date: 1910
Photographer: Edward Curtis
 DO NOT ANNOTATE - Document C

A Piegan child in front of her tipi in 1910.

Title: A child’s lodge

Date: 1910
Photographer: Edward Curtis
 DO NOT ANNOTATE - Document D

A portrait of a Piegan family in 1910.

Title: Reuben Black Boy and family

Date: 1910
Photographer: Edward Curtis
 DO NOT ANNOTATE - Document E

Photograph of Little Plume (right) and his son, Yellow Kidney, in their home.

Title: In a Piegan lodge

Date: 1910
Photographer: Edward Curtis
Guiding Questions: What might each photograph tell us about the Piegan Blackfeet at the
time? Describe with details from the photos & SLIDES NOTES.
Document A
According to Document A, the Piegan Blackfeet were accomplished horse riders who
utilized horses for hunting and long distance travel. The snapshot of three Piegan
Blackfeet on horseback shows their proficiency in horsemanship.

Document B
Document B delves on the Piegan Blackfeet's dwelling structures and way of life. The
tribe's use of tipis as movable houses enabled them to conveniently track bison herd
movements, which were an important element of their subsistence. The snapshot
demonstrates their inventiveness and flexibility in reaction to their surroundings.

Document C
Document C depicts the daily lives of a Piegan Blackfoot family in the early twentieth
century. The image shows a little Piegan girl standing in front of her family's tipi,
which was most likely their house. This photograph provides insight into the Piegan
Blackfeet's living conditions at the period, as well as the sorts of shelters they
employed for refuge.

Document D
Document D, a 1910 picture of a Piegan family, depicts the Piegan Blackfeet's
traditional dress. The family members are clad in a variety of animal hide-based
apparel, including moccasins, leggings, and shirts. The apparel and accessories
give insight into the Piegan Blackfeet's material culture and traditional garb.

Document E
This image depicts Little Plume and his kid, Yellow Kidney, inside their house. The two
guys are seated on the floor, surrounded by various things and instruments.The
home's inside is decorated with various fabrics and furs, and there are numerous
baskets and bags visible in the background. The snapshot provides insight into the
Piegan Blackfeet's material culture and everyday life at the period, as well as the
bond between father and son.

What other evidence might you want to see to determine whether these photographs were accurate representations of the Piegan
Blackfeet?
When evaluating whether a historical photograph is useful as evidence, historians consider various questions, including:
• When and where was the photograph taken?
• Who took the photograph? What was their perspective on the events or people being photographed, and how might that have influenced
what they chose to shoot?
• Why was the photograph taken? Might the photographer have wanted to portray a scene in a particular way?
• Under what circumstances was the photograph taken? How might these circumstances have limited or enabled what the photographer
captured?
• What technology did the photographer use, and how might that have influenced the image created?
ON YOUR OWN - Considering the questions above, why might Curtis’s photographs be
useful evidence about the Piegan Blackfeet at the time?
Curtis' images of the Piegan Blackfeet document their culture, lifestyle, and look in the early
twentieth century. They were taken over several years and chronicle the Blackfeet's
traditional lifeways, including spiritual activities and ceremonies. However, the environment
in which the images were shot, as well as Curtis' personal viewpoint and prejudices, must be
considered. His images may not be an accurate reflection of these people's daily life and
experiences. As a result, they should be assessed alongside other sources and with an
understanding of their limits and biases.

ON YOUR OWN - Considering the questions above, what about the photographs might
cause you to question whether they are useful evidence about the Piegan Blackfeet at the
time?
Curtis' images may not adequately portray the Piegan Blackfeet's everyday lives and
experiences at the time due to the photographer's perspective and the conditions under
which they were taken. Furthermore, the technology employed at the time may have had
limits that influenced the image's accuracy. Finally, the cultural and historical backdrop of
the images may have impacted how he approached his subjects and depicted them in his
photographs. All of these elements might lead a historian to doubt Curtis' images as proof
regarding the Blackfeet.
 ON YOUR OWN
Central Historical Question: What can we learn about the Piegan
Blackfeet from Edward Curtis’s photographs?

Edward Curtis' images capture the Piegan Blackfeet way of life,

including traditional attire, home, and everyday activities. The images
also provide information on their culture and beliefs, such as spiritual
practices and social order. We may learn about the Piegan Blackfeet's
usage of horses in their hunting and nomadic lifestyle from document
A. Document B depicts their semi-nomadic existence and usage of tipis
for shelter. Document C shows a Piegan kid in front of her tipi,
providing us an idea of the family structure and living conditions.
Document D depicts a Piegan family, with details on their dress,
haircuts, and adornments. Finally, Document E depicts Little Plume and
his kid at their house, allowing us to see their interior areas and
domestic life. Overall, these images depict the Piegan Blackfeet's
everyday life, rituals, and material culture, offering unique insights into
their history and culture.

EXCEEDS STANDARDS
EDWARD S. CURTIS DOCUMENTARY - PHOTOGRAPHY
Watch the video
Write a summary
Edward Curtis was an American photographer best known for his images of
Native Americans taken in the early twentieth century. His work is recognized
for its technical brilliance as well as its huge breadth and size. Curtis' work
teaches us the value of photography via passion and devotion, planning and
study, patience and tenacity, attention to detail, cultural sensitivity, and a
genuine respect for the Native American tribes he photographed. His images
are an important historical record of a people and a way of life that were
swiftly vanishing.

Share your thoughts/reactions

To be honest, I think the video overstated a lot of things. I suppose he made
the most straightforward things difficult. It's similar to what an English teacher
does when analyzing a book, when the author unintentionally writes
something with no meaning but the world's English teacher makes it seem as if
it had meaning to it. That's what I got from the guy, I felt like Curtis did a lot of
the things unintentionally but the guy hyped him up and made even the most
insignificant things meaningful.