Fools Crow by James Welch

Fools Crow by James Welch is a historical novel that takes place in the late 19th century and tells the story of the life of a young Blackfeet Native American man named White Man's Dog, later known as Fools Crow. The novel explores his experiences and the struggles of his people during a time when the traditional ways of life for Native Americans were being disrupted by the encroachment of settlers, the U.S. government, and the diminishing buffalo herds.

The story follows Fools Crow's journey from a boy who is caught between the old traditions of his people and the changing world around him, to a young man who becomes a respected warrior and leader within his tribe. He witnesses and is affected by the various forces that shape the destiny of his people, including intertribal conflict, the introduction of smallpox, and the overpowering presence of white settlers. His personal growth and development are set against the backdrop of the broader historical conflict and loss faced by the Blackfeet Nation. Fools Crow, like many characters in the book, grapples with the tension between maintaining the traditions of his ancestors and adapting to the realities of the new world.

This novel addresses complex issues such as identity, loyalty, cultural survival, and the impact of colonization on indigenous people. It paints a vivid picture of Native American life, filled with rich descriptions of the landscape, customs, and spiritual practices of the Blackfeet, while also telling a deeply personal story about a young man’s journey to understanding and leadership.

Ithaca Review Periodically, our club will delve into a novel (Ministry for the Future, Monkey Wrench Gang, etc), though rather infrequently. The novels we have read previously focused on environmental activism/terrorism as it relates to climate change and nature degradation. Fools Crow offered another route of discussion, highlighting the horrors and traumas of indigenous people during the era of "Manifest Destiny": the US Government's unrelenting desire to expand Westward.

While this is technically a fictitious story with characters that did not exist, this book gave us rare insight into tribal and settler relations. The author, himself, was Native American, raised in the Blackfeet and A'aninin cultures of his parents, granting us useful context and perspective. Because of this, the novel (at least in part) felt like a work of nonfiction as many of the events had occurred.

Some of the questions we discussed were as follows:

1. What were your initial impressions of Fools Crow?

2. How does his character grow/change throughout the novel?

3. What parts of the Blackfeet way of living were surprising or interesting to you?

4. What are the different ways that the tribal members are responding to the increasing settler pressures? Is one way more justified than the other?

5. What do you make of the symbolism of the dreams, animals, and natural signs all throughout? 

6. Did the depiction of violence—both physical and cultural—surprise or impact you?

7. What parallels do you see between the historical events in the novel and modern issues faced by Indigenous communities today?

8. Were there parts of the novel that were emotionally difficult to read? Why?

9. How did this book change or deepen your understanding of Native American history and resilience?

10. Which character or moment stayed with you the most, and why?

11. What does it mean to “belong” in this novel—and how is that challenged by outside forces?

12. Do you see moments of cultural adaptation that feel hopeful? Or mostly tragic?

13. Did settlers have a right to move westward in the United States?

14. Does anybody ever own the land?

Overall, the book was well received by those who were able to read most of it. It could be difficult at times to piece apart dreams from reality, a sort of magical realism taking place throughout the book. Our conversations evolved into discussions of human nature, frequently referencing the book The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber. Is human inequality inevitable? Is competition for space and resources, like that between all other biological organisms, inevitable?

We were appreciative of the candid descriptions of inter-tribal relations. At times, there was graphic violence and descriptions of women abuse, and, while tough to read, it felt honest and raw. This book did fail the The Bechdel-Wallace Test: are there at least two women having a conversation together about something other than men? Not really.

The positive global response to Fools Crow, in its award reception over time, extended to our book club as we collectively rated it moderately high.

Ithaca group rating: 7.8/10