The Great Chief: Maskepetoon, Warrior of the Crees

by Kerry Wood, John A. Hall (Illustrator)

Kerry Wood dramatizes the life of Cree man Maskepetoon (c. 1807-1869), through his youth as an impetuous warrior leading raids against the Blackfoot, his developing leadership, and his eventual decision to promote peace among First Nations tribes in the face of white colonialism.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Edgar Allardyce "Kerry" Wood was born in New York in 1907. He moved to Canada with his family when he was three years old, and spent most of his life in Red Deer, Alberta. As a naturalist he helped establish 26 wildlife sanctuaries across North America. He received numerous awards for literature, as well as the Order of Canada. In 1969 he received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Alberta.

Reviews

[Heather Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with my seven year old boy and we both loved it! The story is fast moving and compelling of a young fierce Cree warrior who goes on the warpath against his enemies the Blackfoot. He is brought up in a culture that honours strength and daring and values highly the killing of one's enemies. Yet there are those in his life that counsel him to stop killing and seek peace. He refuses despite misgivings after many scalping raids. Eventually circumstances and an understanding of the vision he received when he was on the verge of manhood that gave him his name Maskepetoon or Wounded Arm, bring him to seek peace between his tribe and enemy tribes. Peace becomes his mission and even though he's severely tested, by facing first his father's killer and much later his son's murderer, he sticks to the way of enemy love and responds with unheard of mercy and grace. Eventually he is killed by Blackfoot in there camp on another mission to promote peace. He is the type of man I want my son to admire, and this story did a wonderful job of showcasing a man's choices and how it affects others and what one can do about it, and how the path of peace often seen as the weaker and softer way actually takes the strongest, most courageous of men to follow it. Yes, this book was written before politically correct terms were in place, but I don't think they detract from the story at all, only a person who is looking for a bone to pick would point to those racial terms and call them slurs, missing the whole point of the story. I found it very applicable for our day and age as the message of peace will always be needed.

[Clivemichael · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fanciful, dated tale from a colonial perspective. Entertaining 50 years ago when I first read it, now it's somewhat distastful in it's stereotypic portrayal of the "noble peacemaker".

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Great Chief. Kerry Wood. 1957 @CanadaCouncil Full of colonialist myths of the noble savage. Bonus racist slurs & Christian conversion!

Reviewed @reallyReads

Readers should be aware that the book includes outdated and colonialist depictions of Indigenous North Americans, and regularly uses words which many now consider racist slurs.