Chief of the North Blackfoot bands, Crowfoot became Tribal Chief during the dramatic finale of the buffalo days. He took part in his first raid at age thirteen and became a noted warrior, participating in nineteen battles and being wounded six times. In 1866 he rescued Father Albert Lacombe from a band of hostile Cree. Widely respected, he was chosen as speaker for the three Blackfoot tribes in the signing of Treaty Seven with the Canadian government in 1877. In the same year he was commended by Queen Victoria for refusing to join Chief Sitting Bull in hostilities against Whites. Crowfoot recognized the futility of continued opposition to aggression by Whites and he kept the peace in 1883 when CPR survey parties attempted to cross his reserve and again in 1885 during the Northwest Rebellion.
