Fools Crow

What is the significance of Fools Crow’s vision in the final chapters of the book, in which he is shown what will happen to the Pikuni people?

Although Fools Crow is in many ways a tragedy, the novel ends with a joyful celebration in the Lone Eater camp. Why might Welch end the novel on a happy note instead of the massacre of Heavy Runner’s band?

How does Welch’s descriptions of the Pikuni lifestyle and characterization of figures like Fools Crow, Rides-at-the-door, Red Paint, and Fast Horse refute common stereotypes of American Indians in popular culture? 

What significance do dreams have in Pikuni culture and the construction of the narrative in Fools Crow? 

The Pikunis and the Napikwans have very different relationships to the natural world. How do the increasing numbers of white settlers have a destructive impact on both wildlife and Pikuni society?

Welch approximates a traditional Blackfeet vocabulary in which names describe specific characteristics of the person, place, or object (“Skunk bear,” “blackhorn,” “seizers,” etc.). How does this decision affect the reading experience and shape our understanding of Pikuni culture?

After reading the novel, what would you say makes a hero in Pikuni culture? Consider Welch’s portrayal of characters like Fools Crow, Fast Horse, and Owl Child.

Write about the significance of Feather Woman and Poia in Fools Crow.