Terrance Guardipee Blackfeet Ledger Artist: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

Alanna Green, founder of Heritage - Stand United, interviewed Guardipee about his work while at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle, WA December 2023.

Terrance Guardipee is an internationally acclaimed Blackfeet painter and ledger artist, known for his unique blend of traditional and contemporary art styles. His work is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Blackfeet people, capturing their history, traditions, and spirituality with remarkable skill and creativity.

Terrance Guardipee: The Artist and His Work

Guardipee with Running Eagle at Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Seattle, Washington.

Terrance Guardipee's art is a fusion of traditional ledger art and modern techniques, showcasing his innovative approach to storytelling. What sets his work apart is his use of antique documents and materials, including maps, war rations, and cheques, which he incorporates into his signature map collage concept. By blending historical artifacts with the ledger art style, Terrance creates visually striking pieces that bridge the gap between past and present.

Depicting Blackfeet Culture and History

As an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation of Montana, Terrance Guardipee draws inspiration from his personal experiences and educational background to create powerful artworks that reflect the cultural richness of his tribe. Growing up in the Blackfeet homeland and actively participating in traditional ceremonies, Terrance's deep connection to his heritage shines through in his art. Each piece tells a story, conveying the spirit of the Blackfeet people and preserving their traditions for future generations.

Recognition and Success

Terrance Guardipee's innovative approach to ledger art has garnered widespread recognition and acclaim. His work can be found in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the Smithsonian Institute, the Gene Autry Museum, and the Hood Museum at Dartmouth College. Terrance has been the featured artist at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, and has received numerous awards at prominent Native art markets, including first place in the ledger art category at the Santa Fe Indian Art Market.

Each Piece Tells a Story

Terrance Guardipee's artwork goes beyond aesthetics; it is a visual narrative that weaves together personal and cultural stories. Each stroke and symbol carries meaning, capturing the essence of Blackfeet history, spirituality, and daily life. His art invites viewers to explore the rich tapestry of the Blackfeet culture and gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and resilience of this Indigenous community.

Alanna Green, founder of Heritage - Stand United had the opportunity to interview Guardipee about his work while attending the Winter Market at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Seattle, WA, this past December 2023.

In the interview, Guardipee explained how ledger art originated in 1850 and was popular until around 1910 when it went dormant. In 1998, Guardipee and four other artists resurrected the art form, which is up and running and not in danger of again dying out. There are now several hundred people from all different tribes creating ledger art and using different styles.

His particular contribution towards ledger art and what comprises his style are the stocks, bonds, cheques, registers and music paper that are used, and collaging them onto larger pieces such as matte board.

In the interview, Guardipee details the symbolism of one of his pieces, a focus on the celebrated female warrior Running Eagle. He explains in great length,

"The moon shape is mother of all the universe, all of the planets and the heavens. The morning star for the Blackfeet is their way of worshipping the father and the mother Little Dipper, Six Brothers in their creation story. Big Dipper, One Sister and Six Brothers; also reference their creation stories. On either side, the triangle shape are mountain signs for Glacier National Park referred to by the Blackfeet as the “Backbone of the World” a spiritual place for the Blackfeet.  The yellow dots in the triangle signs represent the “above beings” or sky people who come down to interact with Blackfeet. The Blackfeet believe that they are star people in their creation stories using symbols". 

"The horseback rider is Running Eagle, the only woman leader of an all-male war society called Crazy Dog Society or Brave Dog Society.

She went into combat at the age of 14, and by the age of 18 or 19, she was a leader of that society. She lived to age 27. Never married, no children. Running Eagle lived the lifestyle of a warrior. She was very generous to the people, especially the ones who couldn’t take care of themselves. She would hunt, give them food, and clothing, very generous but powerful as a warrior." 

Guardipee explains, "Her headdress is called a stand-up bonnet," (a stand-up headdress is also called a war bonnet). A war bonnet is one of the most iconic pieces of Blackfeet Indian clothing. This headdress is adorned with feathers, each one representing a brave act or war achievement. The war bonnet is reserved for special occasions and is worn by tribal leaders. The war bonnet is a symbol of power and authority among various tribes of the Plains Indians, including the Blackfeet tribe. The number of feathers on a war bonnet can vary, but it is generally believed that the more feathers a war bonnet has, the greater the wearer’s honor and bravery. Each feather on a war bonnet represents a selfless act that was accomplished during battle or was done for the tribe. The number of feathers on a war bonnet can vary, but it is generally believed that the more feathers a war bonnet has, the greater the wearer’s honor and bravery.

Guardipee continues, "The red plumes represent high rank, also taking the enemy in combat. The brow is red trade cloth with brass shoe buttons. The band of the headdress has brass tacks that represent the Milky Way or Wolf’s Trail. According to Blackfoot tradition, the Wolf’s Trail is a celestial pathway that leads to the sky world inhabited by a celestial race of people. The center of the Wolf’s Trail is their version of heaven, their God lives."

"The Ermine down the side of the headdress, captured in winter, evoked the ermine or winter weasels, known to be fierce and courageous fighters. Ermine or weasel are used because it’s a very feisty animal. Also, it’s a fusing of spiritual power from nature into your spiritual heart, an enhancement through nature.  The face paint is blue, which represents the moon or woman’s power.  Her dress is green which represents springtime, and a new life for her as a warrior and young woman.

The elk teeth hanging down below (around the waist) are falling stars, nowadays they use thimbles, in the old days they used elk teeth. 

On the dress are mountain designs for Glacier National Park, also known in Blackfeet culture for centuries as Backbone of the World. 

Pistol belt and two pistols. She is firing one behind her with her right arm while hanging onto the bridle with her left hand. 

Bow and Quiver with mountain designs on it, black marks represent things she has accomplished as a warrior.

On the pistol holsters are mountain designs. The cream blanket is her spiritual blanket, she would attend ceremonies with it. The disks would be her own personal design, representing spiritual shields deflecting negativity. 

Mountain designs on the inside of the bands (on the ceremonial blanket).

Down below, her leggings and moccasins have mountain designs, mother moon at the bottom of the dress, morning star is the savior, black lines are coon marks or things she has accomplished as a woman. 

The saddle has blue on the neck of the saddle, representing the moon, and woman power, she is a woman warrior.

The red blanket, the color red is very powerful, in society, the blood that binds you together. It is also a very powerful spiritual protection color choice. Red represents the blood of the tribe in the society, what binds them together to their family, their tribe and their society. It is also a very powerful spiritual protection color choice.

The horse as a horse mask represents that she is a leader in the society.

The lines on the eyes represent insight.

Yellow represents the sun.

Red represents the blood of the tribe in the society, what binds them together as warriors, what binds them together to their family, their tribe and their society. It is also a very powerful spiritual protection color choice.

The yellow dots on the horse headdress (six in total) represent the Little Dipper. 

Anytime you see a representation of three in (Guardipee’s) art it always represents the sun, moon, and morning star. However, in the case of the horse headdress, it is the Little Dipper.  

A single pyramid shape is Chief Mountain, Blackfoot sacred mountain, which is on the border of Alberta and Montana. 

Down the neck of the horse is the heart line, red is the blood that binds them, green is air and lungs, the yellow and blue stripes are sun and moon rays going down the neck of the horse, 

The keyhole design is a personal protection design or it can be a buffalo corral. There are two meanings. In this case, it’s a protection symbol. 

The white dots are hand stones, when they fall they lay everything down, power of nature, fusing it into your body into your horse, spiritual power. 

The hailstone symbol deflects negativity, and evil, pushing it away from you. The morning star, the saviour, single pyramid Chief Mountain, Leadership design, red outline yellow center. 

The yellow disk in the heartline is the spirit of the horse. 

Moon rays are coming down the front foreleg.

The crescent moon and lightning represent when mother moon sends morning star to the (Blackfeet people) to give them their way of worshipping the father and mother. 

The red dots on the legs are joint markings, keeping their horse upright. 

Mountain signs on the hindlegs (four mountain signs, wind and seasons, directions). 

The dots are the above people, the sky people.

The hoof prints are how many times she has used this particular horse. 

There are seven dots on the horse’s rear, representing the Big Dipper (one sister, six brothers). 

Hail stones on the hind legs, protection, spiritual power, deflection of negativity, crush it down.

The hoof prints are square. The Blackfeet people always leave the animal that has a hoof as a print that he is living on earth, they are not drawing a hoof. It is a print, a mark that he is living on the earth. 

The tail is folded and wrapped, representing combat and war. She is capturing the horses behind her.

On the middle horse, you have the heart line like on the front horse. 

Red is the blood that binds, green is air and lungs, on the chest is the big stone symbol, the blue hand represents her marking the horse, saying this is my horse, I’m taking this horse, 

On the third horse is the kidney markings. 

The line down the neck is the heart line, red for the blood that binds, green is air and lungs, the blue hand represents her taking it. 

The blue of the moon represents woman power, she is capturing it, 

The joint markings keep it upright, 

The rolling hill designs are green and her dress is green and the designs are green representing springtime, so it is a new beginning, a new life, a new start for her as a warrior, 

How do the cheques and all of the documents tie in? The cheques represent her vision, they are from 1888 from Helena, Montana. Representing provision for the family. 

Mining Stocks represent minerals they are using from the earth, same with the mining receipts, minerals they are using from the earth. 

The cheques are provisions providing for her people, the less fortunate, in the society that she is a leader of.  That was one of her duties. All of the designs on the ledger painting are still used to this day. 

Terrance Guardipee's Blackfeet Ledger Art represents a fusion of tradition and innovation. His unique artistic style, use of antique materials, and dedication to depicting Blackfeet culture have made him a respected figure in the Native art community. Through his art, Terrance brings the past to life, preserving and celebrating the heritage of the Blackfeet people.

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