“The Blackfeet Indians had a strong sense of territorial rights,” begins Z.S. Liang. “They did not suffer gladly the encroachment by people to whom they had not granted permission. It was generally agreed that a territory not sternly defended was a territory soon to be lost. These Blackfeet warriors are positioned on a vantage point overlooking the Medicine River where recently a party of young braves experienced an unsuccessful encounter with Captain Lewis and three of his men.”

That was only deadly incident with Native Americans during Lewis and Clark’s entire expedition. On their return trip east Lewis and company met a band of Blackfeet on July 26, 1806, in what is now Pondera County, MT. The two groups camped together. Lewis spoke to the Blackfeet of a U.S. Government peace plan to unite the western tribes. He told them the Nez Perce and Shoshone had accepted the plan and would be receiving guns and supplies in return.

The Blackfeet recognized immediately the threat to their territory and power that this plan entailed. Late that night they tried to steal the Expedition’s guns and in the fight that followed, two Blackfeet were killed. From that point forward, the Blackfeet treated Americans as they would any other potential adversary.

"Overlooking Two Medicine River, 1806" captures the sweeping expanse of the western landscape along with the determined strength of the Blackfeet people.