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Joseph Crowshoe Sr. OC
Aapohsoy’yiis
Born	January 3, 1906 Piikani Nation
Died	October 29, 1999 Piikani Nation
Occupation	Spiritual leader of Piikani Nation
Years active	1930 - 1993
Board member of	Lifetime councillor (Peigan Nation)
Spouse	Josephine Crowshoe
Children	Leonard Bastien (adopted)
Awards	Order of Canada (1991) Canadian Citation for Citizenship (1989) Aboriginal Achievement Award (1998)

Joseph Crowshoe Sr (Joe) OC (1906 - October 29, 1999) - Aapohsoy’yiis (Weasel Tail) - along with his wife, Josephine - were the "last living ceremonial Elders of the Piikani Nation - formerly known as Peigan Nation - in southern Alberta." In 1977 Joseph Crowshoe successfully petitioned the Provincial Museum in Alberta to return the a sacred pipe bundle essential for the performance of the Sun Dance ceremony. Joseph Crowshoe was the Holder of the Blackfoot Short Thunder Medicine Pipe Bundle. When the two were brought together the Sun Dance ceremony was reinstated after a 25-year absence in the province. Joseph and his wife Josephine led the ceremony." In 1998 they were awarded the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the "Heritage and Spirituality category for saving the knowledge and practices of the Blackfoot people" and because of their commitment and dedication to preserving Aboriginal culture and promoting the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people." Joseph Crowshoe was "instrumental in the creation" of the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. "Joe Crowshoe Sr., 81, from Peigan Nation received an honorary doctor of law degree at the 1990 convocation ceremonies at the University of Calgary." In 1930 Joe Crowshoe became spiritual leader of the Peigan Nation.

"Crowshoe's support as a spiritual leader is often sought by many organizations and groups. Currently he is an adviser to the Indian Summer World Festival of Aboriginal Motion Pictures held every summer in Pincher Creek. Until recently he provided spiritual guidance to inmates at Bowden and Drumheller correctional institutions. His philanthropic activities led him to different parts of the world. Crowshoe traveled to Australia and New Zealand in cultural exchanges with aboriginal people in those two countries. In 1988, he also participated in the Ex-Terra Foundation paleontology mission to China."

Early life

Joseph Crowshoe Sr. was "born in his parents' camp beside the Oldman River on the Piikani reserve." "When he was younger Joe Crowshoe studied to become a minister, but this vocation was not meant to be."

Joe and Josephine Crowshoe

"The couple, even later in life, traveled throughout southern Alberta and in the northern United States." "Josephine, a Holy Woman, is the Keeper of the Natoas (sun dance) Bundle."

Piikani reserve education system

"In addition to his work with post-secondary institutions, Crowshoe also worked for about 20 years as a cultural and spiritual advisor for the public education system on the Peigan reserve."

Personal life

"The Crowshoes had eleven children, and adopted many more into their families and their homes."

Promoted relationship between peoples

Joe Crowshoe worked "with and for his community as a band councilor, as well as working in cultural exchange projects, which take him as far as New Zealand and China."

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Alberta

Joseph Crowshoe was "instrumental in the creation" of the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre near Fort McLeod which was founded in 1955 and designated IUCN III as a World Heritage Site (WHS) in 1981 during the 5th session

The Joe Crow Shoe Sr. Lodge is dedicated to his memory.

Interpretive centre and museum

According to Wikipedia, "Head-Smashed-In was abandoned in the 19th century after European contact. The site was first recorded by Europeans in the 1880s, and first excavated by the American Museum of Natural History in 1938. It was designated a National Historic Site in 1968, a Provincial Historic Site in 1979, and a finally a World Heritage Site in 1981 for its testimony of prehistoric life and the customs of aboriginal people. Opened in 1987, the interpretive centre at Head-Smashed-In is built into the ancient sandstone cliff in naturalistic fashion. It contains five distinct levels depicting the ecology, mythology, lifestyle and technology of Blackfoot peoples within the context of available archaeological evidence, presented from the viewpoints of both aboriginal peoples and European archaeological science.

Sun Dance

In 1977, the Sun Dance ceremony was reinstated at the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota after a 25-year absence in the province. Joseph and his wife Josephine led the ceremony.

"That special Okan took place in the summer of 1977. It was sponsored by North Pikunni elders Joe and Josephine Crowshoe (Weasel Tail and DistantNez-Perce-Woman), with the noted South Pikunni elder Mike Swims Under (Many Stars) working as Sun Dance priest, or ‘father.’ His partner was the elderly Kainah Sun Dance woman, Annie Rides-at-the-Door (Stealing-Different-Things-Woman), who worked as the holy ‘mother.’ It was a very beautiful and successful Okan, heralding a new era in the revival of Blackfoot culture. Many more Sun Dances have been held in the years since."

North American Studies programs

"Crowshoe served as an advisor on setting up Native American studies programs at both the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge."

Blackfoot Dictionary

"Mr. Crowshoe edited the Blackfoot Dictionary that was published through the University of Lethbridge."

International philanthropy

"Crowshoe traveled to Australia and New Zealand in cultural exchanges with aboriginal people in those two countries. In 1988, he also participated in the Ex-Terra Foundation paleontology mission to China."

Awards

Joseph and Josephine Crowshoe "received the Order of Canada in 1991. Joe received an Alberta Achievement Award in 1989, has an Honorary Doctorate of law from the University of Calgary, an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University of Montana, was a member of the official welcoming committee at the 1991 Royal Visit, has a Citation of Citizenship from the Government of Canada and is a lifetime councillor at the Peigan Nation."

Joe was given an Alberta Achievement Award in 1989, and an Honorary Doctorate of law from the University of Calgary, as well as an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities from the University of Montana. In 1991 Joseph Crowshoe "was a member of the official welcoming committee at the Royal Visit." He received a Citation of Citizenship from the Government of Canada. Joe Crowshoe was a lifetime councilor at the Peigan Nation.

National Aboriginal Achievement Award

Main article: National Aboriginal Achievement Award

Joseph and Josephine "received a standing ovation from the 3,500 people inside Toronto's Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts" in 1998 as they received the National Aboriginal Achievement Award by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine and Very Reverend Stanley John McKay - last year's award winner in the Heritage and Spirituality category.

Criticisms

"Although Joe Crowshoe has received criticism for his role in sharing the culture, traditions and religion of the Peigan with society at large, his was nevertheless regarded as a respected elder."

Interviews

During the years 1991 to 1998 Joseph Crowshoe "recorded about twenty hours of audiotape" in both "Blackfoot and English" which were later used by Michael Ross in the 2008 publication of Weasel Tail: Stories told by Joe Crowshoe Sr. (Aapohsoy yiis), a Peigan Blackfoot Elder.

Funeral

Six hundred people attended Joe Crowshoe Sr.'s funeral which was held on November 2, 1999 in the Brocket Community Hall with Margaret Water Chief and Archdeacon Sidney Black of the Anglican Diocese of Calgary presiding. "Crowshoe's tipi hung as a backdrop and his headdress was laid in front."