Joe and Josephine Crowshoe lived on the Peigan reserve. They were
people who have spent their life working toward peace in their
lives and their communities. When he was younger Joe Crowshoe
studied to become a minister, but this vocation was not meant to
be. However, Joe Crowshoe has 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. The
couple, even later in life, traveled throughout southern Alberta
and in the northern United States. The Crowshoes had eleven
children, and adopted many more into their families and their
homes. Throughout all his travels, Josephine has been a constant
source of strength and support. The couple has been a support to
the community and have be advocates for peace and the environment.
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. The couple maintains such cultural practices as the legends
and stories passed down, the use of sweetgrass in smudge and the
use of the pipe. Crowshoe served as an advisor on setting up
Native American studies programs at both the University of Calgary
and the University of Lethbridge. Crowshoe was also instrumental
in developing the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretative
Centre into a UNESCO world heritage site. 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. As well, he provided
editing assistance on the first Blackfoot language dictionary.
The couple was instrumental in the perpetuation of the Peigan
culture, and received many honours for their work. They were
recipients of a National Aboriginal Achievement Award. The two
also received the Order of Canada in 1991. 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. He was a
member of the official welcoming committee at the 1991 Royal
Visit, and has a Citation of Citizenship from the Government of
Canada. Joe Crowshoe was a lifetime councilor at the Peigan
Nation. Josephine, a Holy Woman, is the Keeper of the Natoas (sun
dance) Bundle and Joe is the Holder of the Blackfoot Short Thunder
Medicine Pipe Bundle.
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This digital collection was
produced with financial assistance from Canada's Digital
Collections initiative, Industry Canada.