Sinopah: The Indian Boy

by James Willard Schultz

Beautifully illustrated, this is the story of Sinopah, a young boy of the Blackfoot Confederacy, who became the great chief Pitamakan (Running Eagle).

If you like this book, please search for "James Willard Schultz Native American Collection".

James Willard Schultz, (born August 26, 1859, died June 11, 1947) was a noted author, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian of the Blackfoot Confederacy. While operating a fur trading post at Carroll, Montana and living amongst the Pikuni tribe during the period 1880-82, he was given the name "Apikuni" by the Pikuni chief, Running Crane. Apikuni in Blackfoot means Spotted Robe.

Genres: History

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

James Willard Schultz, or Apikuni, (born August 26, 1859, died June 11, 1947) was a noted author, explorer, Glacier National Park guide, fur trader and historian of the Blackfoot Indians.

James Willard Schultz (J.W. Schultz) started writing at the age of 21, publishing articles and stories in Forest and Stream for 15 years. He did not write his first book until 1907 at age 48. The memoir: ''My Life as an Indian tells the story of his first year living with the Pikuni tribe of Blackfeet Indians East of Glacier. In 1911, he associated himself with publishers Houghton Mifflin who published Schultz's subsequent books for the next 30 years. In all, Schultz wrote and published 37 fiction and non-fiction books dealing with the Blackfoot, Kootenai, and Flathead Indians. His works received critical literary acclaim from the general media as well as academia for his story telling and contributions to ethnology. Sometime after 1902, while living in Southern California, Schultz worked for a while as the literary editor of the Los Angeles Times.

Reviews

[Sarah B Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This book details the formative years of Sinopah. It describes the endearment of a child to his family. It describes a grandfather pouring his life into his grandson. It is a lovely book.

[Daniel L Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

Schultz is a good writer who spent enough time with the Blackfeet to learn much from them. Enjoyed this short narrative.

[raymond fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I simply don't under why Schultz calls Sinopah a boy when my research says Sinopah was a woman who grew up to be a great war chief named Pitamakan (Running Eagle) and who married Hugh Monroe.

[Vince Pillig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Schult z is a good writer relaying the stories. One could only imagine the life he led living with the black feet for so many years.

[Brianna Norris · Rating 1 out of 5]

For what it was, this book was a fun collection of stories about a young Blackfeet boy growing up in Montana. Considering that it was written by a white man, there is a possibility that the truth was stretched to fit the American idea of how Native Americans lived, thought, and behaved. That is definitely something to keep in mind. I love reading about Native American culture and this book provided me with a glimpse into that, still keeping in mind that there were a few instances of what reminded me of white propaganda regarding native American tribes. I would say overall, read this story if you want insight into white settlers as they encountered Indigenous tribes, but do not treat it as Blackfeet gospel.

[Mel Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the story of the very early childhood and adventures of a young Blackfeet boy named Sinopah living around the early 1800s. Typical of James Willard Schultz, the book spends lots of time talking about the culture, religion, and life of the Blackfeet. It is a very short read and an inexpensive edition, which might make it valuable to a teacher looking to give students a taste of Native American life. It is worth nothing that though Schultz was born in Boonville in Upstate NY, he moved west and married a Blackfeet woman, making a living as a fur trader and guide in Montana, so he "lived the life" he describes. I gave it only 3 stars because though it has some interesting incidents, it lacks the exciting plot of Schultz's longer novels like "With the Indians in the Rockies" or "Lone Bull's Mistake."
My favorite parts are the various ways in which the children's play is directed to prepare them for adult life--the play lodge, for instance-- while at the same time allowing them freedom to do important and even potentially dangerous tasks, such as gathering food. Schultz also portrays the life of a more intergenerational society, where older adults such as Red Crane help teach children morals even as he teaches them practical skills like tracking, sewing, and working clay.

[LadyCalico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am working my way through all the James Willard Schultz books available on Project Gutenberg and am finding them absolutely fascinating. This was not my favorite so far since it was written in a more distant and pedantic style about an Blackfoot boy's life from birth until he puts aside childish things to begin formal training to be a man and a warrior, although all his life until that point had been informal training, as his father and grandfather teach him many wise life lessons leading up to that day. It would be a great educational book for older children, but wasn't quite as engrossing and entertaining as the books narrating this young man's later adventures; those have a more inside-the-skin sense of reality.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinopah

A story of the birth and growth of an Indian boy destined to be
Chief of his people, the Black feet. The author vividly depicts the life and the beliefs of these people in realistic terms. He lived and worked among them many years and his affection for them shines through in every sentence.