Bookeeping #3 - Fools Crow by James Welch

I am not quite finished with the book, but so far, I have gained a lot from it. Fools Crow by James Welch offers a unique, realistic perspective into the life of the Blackfoot people during the colonization of what is now the United States. The story follows the character of Fools Crow, and his journey in becoming a man. Presenting ideologies the modern world could learn from Indigenous traditions. More specifically, the pursuit of good medicine.

Throughout the book, the words, good medicine, are frequent. At first, I was confused by what this meant. Whenever a character in the book is said to have good medicine, my mind thought of literal medicine - like an older version of Advil or something. But after progressing through the plot, watching some characters use their good medicine and others lose their good medicine, I realized that this medicine is not physical, rather spiritual. Having good medicine is how one uses their power. And each person has power; power in how they carry themselves and power in how they present/ give themselves to the outside world. Does their presence bring strength and harmony? Or ego and hate? In regard to the book, obtaining and maintaining good medicine is integral in their participation in the community. One’s that have bad medicine cause more harm than good. They are not given important work, because they fail to work on themselves. 

The presence of good medicine is something that can be lost without maintenance. And one can lose it much easier and faster than gaining it. Only through action and consistency can one begin to build good medicine. The pursuit of good medicine consists of holding oneself to the highest standards of life. And the standards can change from person to person. The protagonist, Fools Crow, undergoes a ceremony to rid him of a bad spirit, a spirit that has infiltrated his mind, giving him potent dreams of lust and ego. What is interesting, is the thoughts in question were not necessarily alarming to myself, then again, maybe I do not hold myself to a high enough standard. For example, Fools Crows got his name through a story of exaggeration. It was said he played dead to trick a rival Crow chief into thinking he was dead, only to catch him off guard and kill his adversary. But in reality, Fools Crow fainted from fear and pain, only acting out of reaction when he woke. He cried over this; over the fact that his name was a façade. 

Then I thought of my own life. All the exaggerations, the ego, and the bad medicine. No, I do not believe I am a bad person, and yes, I do believe I hold good medicine. But this book has taught me that there is no end in one’s pursuit of good medicine. There is always improvement, and there will always be internal battles. 

The idea of good medicine is absent in our society. Though many do hold themselves to a certain standard, there is a complacency in mediocrity. Most are ok being ok. What most define as success doesn’t include the achievement of good medicine - for its existence has been forgotten. Worth is tied up in money and power over others - lacking individual power themselves. As I scroll Instagram, I am fed humor at the price of someone’s misfortune; but I laugh anyways. As I watch the news, talking heads tell me what’s what, and I believe them.

I have control over one thing in this life, and that is myself. Only I can decide my fate - through action. The achievement of good medicine will always be just out of reach, but I will extend my arm towards it anyways. Yes, I will make mistakes, step on toes, and, at times, be selfish. But my character is defined by my reaction to these misfortunes - and hopefully, at the end of my life, I will be remembered as someone who had good medicine. And when I didn’t, someone who strived for it. 

Native Flute

^ I am not sure if this is a Blackfoot song or not, but it is beautiful.