Title: Z.S. Liang (1953- ), The Holy Rattle (Elkwater Lake Battle,1864)
Medium: oil on linen
Dimensions: 40 x 60
Frame dimensions: 49 5/8 x 69.5 x 4 CR

The Elkwater Lake region near the border between Canada and the U.S. once was the favorite buffalo hunting ground for the Blackfeet and other Plain Indian tribes. The Kootenay Indians on the west side of the Rockies wanted to come over to hunt buffalo in this region as well. Usually they sent advance messengers with gifts to the Blackfeet tribes and then they were allowed to hunt together. In the spring of 1864, the Kootenay Indians got the news that the Blackfeet were hunting in a different region, so they no longer sought permission. About three hundred Kootenay men traveled into the Elkwater Lake region and accidentally bumped into a much larger group of Blackfeet hunters. A fight broke out and soon became a full scale battle. In the battle, a Kootenay holy man named Raven rode right into the Blackfeet line shaking his holy rattle and singing his war song. The Blackfeet warriors kept shooting him from all directions yet he remained unscathed. His brave act shocked the enemy and his holy rattle was believed to have had superior spiritual power. At the end of the day, both sides called off the fight. Amazingly, both sides claimed their casualties in single digits. During the winter of 1864 to 1865, both tribes agreed to keep peace. Six years ago, after I learned this incident, I traveled to Elkwater Lake for a field study and started the preparation for this painting.

signed lower right: Z.S. Liang verso: titled, signed, dated, numbered