Pioch-Kiä́iu, Piegan Blackfoot Man

Pioch-Kiäìiu (Distant Bear) posed for Bodmer at Fort McKenzie over the course of two days in the summer of 1833. His distinctive profile features a topknot smeared with red clay or vermilion that possibly indicates his status as a pipe keeper. A thin layer of blue pigment obtained from the Rocky Mountains nearly covers the aged man’s face. A week after the portrait sitting, Cree and Assiniboine warriors launched a surprise attack on the Blackfoot camp outside Fort McKenzie. Pioch-Kiäìiu reported to Maximilian that “no bullets had been able to hit him; undoubtedly the reason was that he had been sketched.”