ID
0634
Nationality
American
Native American (Blackfeet)
Occupation
Woodcarver
Sculptor
Artist
Summary
Born at Highwood, MT; deafened at age 2 by scarlet fever. Indian name was Cutapuie ("Man Who Talks Not"). Began education at Ft. Shaw Indian School, then transferred to North Dakota School for the Deaf in 1894. Transferred to Montana School for the Deaf in 1897 for one year, then to the St. Francis Academy for the Deaf in Milwaukee, WI, where he learned woodcarving. Returned to the Indian reservation at Glacier Park in 1913 to set up a studio, where he maintained it for 57 years. Wintered in Great Falls. Died at Cut Bank, Montana; buried in East Glacier Cemetery, Glacier National Park. Exhibited in many museums in New York, Montana, Boston, Tulsa, Chicago, Baltimore, Kansas City, Detroit, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.
References
Deaf Persons in the Arts and Sciences, p.74-78; Deaf Artists in America, p.139-143; Gallaudet Encyclopedia, vol.1 p.187-188; Step Into the Circle, p.55-57; Deaf Heritage, p.108-109; Silent News, v.26 n.4, April 1994, p.25; Silent Worker, Oct. 1949, p.3-4; Digest of the Deaf, v.1 n.1, Oct. 1938, p.8-9; Interesting Deaf Americans, p.132-134.
Dates
20 January 1881-20 November 1970