“Tracking the Enemy”

The American Indian was unparalleled in his ability to track men and animals and survive in a land of challenging extremes. Reading the signs of his environment and interpreting their meaning was a complex task upon which their survival depended.

A heightened state of awareness was crucial in calculating and measuring his chances for success. His reactions were honed by a lifetime of experience to be razor sharp. Panic did not exist. If caught off guard his abilities to spot the enemy and calculate whether to fight, run or give warning to others was both automatic and selfless.

An accomplished warrior could ascertain what tribe made a certain trail, how many were in the band, what their mission was, if they were going to or returning from that mission, how far from home they were, how many horses they had, how much of a load they were carrying, the mood of the band, how old the trail was, where they might currently be, and the course of action to take as a result of his interpretation.

Underlying all of these skills was his natural faculty of direction, which was honed and perfected from his training and experience.

The Blackfoot warrior depicted in my sculpture “Tracking the Enemy” is using his remarkable skill in sign reading to hunt down a marauding band of Crow warriors and avenge the losses of his people.