Ahk'kwiiniimakii (Pipe Woman Harrison)

Referenced from one of the few photographs of the artist’s great, great grandmother. Pipewoman was not only a respected elder, she provided all of the fish for the the Great Northern hotels in Glacier National Park--an interesting occupation for a traditional Blackfeet, as Pikuni are not big on eating fish. Married four times, her last husband was Mr. Frank Harrison, a white man. It is said that Mr. Harrison spoke no Niitsitapi, while his wife spoke no English and the couple communicated exclusively through sign language.

Detroit Business University Check from 1891