Akak'stiman

Reg Crowshoe is a well-known Blackfoot ceremonialist who lives on the Peigan reserve in southern Alberta. He is the executive director of the Oldman River Cultural Centre and has pioneered and initiated cross-cultural programs for many organizations and institutions across Western Canada. Reg is the son of the revered Native spiritual leader Joe Crowshoe. He has earned an honorary doctorate in law from the University of Calgary. Sybille Manneschmidt is a psychologist, international health consultant, author, and rancher. She earned her doctorate from the University of Alberta and has worked with the Peigan nation for twenty years. She is a sessional teacher at the University of Lethbridge.

• IntroductionSummaryAcknowledgements1. IntroductionBackground InformationMethodology2. History of the Peigan PeoplePrehistoric TimesDog DaysHorse DaysEarly ContactTreaty DaysThe Early Twentieth CenturyPopulationStarvationEpidemics3. Social StructuresFamily and Extended FamilyBandsTribeSocietiesLeadershipRoles of Men and Women4. Peigan/Blackfoot Concepts of Sacred Bundles and their FunctionsThe Natoas (Sun Dance Bundle)The Beaver BundleThe Thunder Medicine Pipe BundleSocieties'' BundlesIndividual or Personal Bundles5. Transfer Rites6. The Blackfoot Circle Structure Processes7. Healing, Health Services, and Health ProvidersTraditional Blackfoot Medical CareWestern Medical ServicesCanadian Government Health Bureaucracy8. The Blackfoot Circle Structure Model and its Application Health Administration9. An Application Mediation Process in Child Protection and Business10. ConclusionAppendicesA. Creation StoreB. First Contact Between White Men and BlackfootC. Legend of Star Boy (Later, Poia, Scarface)D. The Elk-WomanE. Origin of the Long Time PipeF. Origin of the Medicine PipeG. Loss and Capture of the Thunder PipeH. Transfer History of the Small Thunder Medicine PipeI. Interview: Bull Horn DoctorNotesBibliography