The Legacy of Running Eagle
The story of Pi’tamaka, also known as Running Eagle, is one of defying expectations and stepping into a role few women were allowed to pursue. Originally named Brown Weasel Woman, Pi’tamaka was born into one of the three Blackfeet Confederacy tribes, Piikáni (Peigan, Pikuni, Piikuni). As a girl, she displayed remarkable physical and mental strength, characteristics that often drew the attention of her tribe’s leaders. But what truly set her apart was her unrelenting spirit and determination to prove herself not just as a member of the Blackfeet but as a warrior. She showed no hesitation in stepping into roles traditionally reserved for men, embracing a life of courage, endurance, and leadership.
Her training began early. Her natural athleticism also made her a fast runner and skilled hunter. As she grew older, she became an exceptional horsewoman, leading wild hunts and raids with precision alongside the men of her tribe. These skills earned her the admiration and the trust of the tribe. Before her father passed and took over the responsibilities of the family, she saved her father’s life during a hunt when an enemy war party attacked them. After losing her father in another battle and her mother becoming ill, Brown Weasel Woman became the head of his painted lodge and cared for her siblings, embodying the Blackfeet values of kinship and duty.
Once a widow was taken into her family, she was again relieved to hunt the buffalo and extend her leadership far beyond her family. Brown Weasel Woman was challenged by her elders to set off on a vision quest—a grueling rite of passage typically reserved for male warriors. She fasted for four days near what is now known as Running Eagle Falls, suffering through hunger and isolation while praying for guidance and clarity. Herein her vision quest, she returned having said she had a vision of the sun promising to give her great power and protection in battle, as long as she never slept with a man. This quest would mark her place as the only woman of her tribe to achieve such an honor.
Running Eagle became the first woman to lead Blackfeet warriors into battle, a feat that defied gender norms and cemented her legacy as one of the great warrior leaders. She led her people through successful raids and hunts, guiding them through difficult situations with unparalleled bravery. Her story became a saga passed down through generations, told by Piikáni elders as a symbol of courage and the triumph of willpower over adversity. One summer, when the tribes gathered and warriors spoke of their adventures, the Piikáni chief asked Brown Weasel Woman to share hers. The unusual request of a woman was an honor. Afterward, the chief honored her by bestowing her with a man's name, Pi’tamaka (Running Eagle), recognizing her strength and bravery, and treating her as an equal among male warriors.
However, even a warrior as great as Running Eagle was not invincible. Sometime after 1878, she led a final raid across the Continental Divide, venturing into Flathead territory. It was here that she met her death, killed in battle. Rumors spread that she no longer received the sun’s protection after she had broken her vow to never sleep with a man, yet her legacy lived on in the hearts of her people. She died a successful warrior, doing what she loved. Her body was brought back to Upper Two Medicine Lake, where she was laid to rest in a tree overlooking the falls, the place where she had received her vision, where her journey had truly begun.
As I stood at Running Eagle Falls, now named in her honor, I could feel the weight of her story pressing down on me. The falls themselves seemed a fitting tribute to her memory. Their structure is unlike any I had seen before—a two-tiered waterfall, with the top tier pouring glacier meltwater after the winter season. The powerful, upper waterfall gushes in the spring and early summer, but by late summer, only the bottom tier flows, its waters seeping through underground channels, giving it a hidden, mystical quality. It felt like the falls mirrored Running Eagle’s story, a surface layer of beauty and power hiding deeper meanings below.
That day, I arrived during late summer, so the upper falls were dry, and only the lower waterfall trickled through, passing through the Earth like an underground river. It gave me a moment to reflect, standing there where this great warrior had once stood, her spirit forever entwined with the land. Her life had been about endurance, and just as these falls shifted with the seasons, Running Eagle’s life had been one of transformation and resilience. I thought about the strength required not just to survive, but to thrive, to lead, and to carry the weight of responsibility. In that moment, I saw myself in her legacy—holding my responsibilities, drawing strength from the land, and pushing forward through whatever challenges came my way. It was a humbling experience, standing in a place that had witnessed such an extraordinary life, a place that now shared its story with anyone willing to listen.
Running Eagle Falls, August 2023.
Running Eagle Falls is more than just a beautiful site; it’s a sacred place, rich with history and meaning. To the Blackfeet people, this is not just a tourist destination, but a monument to one of their greatest warriors—a woman who led her people with bravery, wisdom, and resilience, much like the water that continues to flow through these ancient rocks, even after centuries have passed.
