Toy Gun Woman: Have you ever wondered what the Indian Wars were like from a Piegan Blackfeet Woman’s point of view? A Narrative Biography of Margaret Armelle Rivet

Based on a true story, Toy Gun Woman, née Margaret Armelle, was born in 1820. She lived through the tumults of the Indian wars, the invasion of the white settlers, saw the passing of the buffalo herds, and into the automobile generation of the 20th century. Margaret Armelle Rivet Deschamps is telling us the story of her life. She speaks of those perilous times in the early days of the 1800s at a time when very few white men were coming west. She speaks of having survived scourges of smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever; the raids and massacres as the white man settled and disrupted the Blackfoot way of life. After the death of her mother, her father, Augustine Armelle, marries Toy Gun Woman's aunt, Pine Tree Woman, whom Margaret calls Almost-Mother. Twice Margaret believed she was widowed and twice Louis rivet returned, once scalped and left for dead, another time it was reported that he had died at the hands of the Sioux. The marriage continued, sometimes lovingly and sometimes with contrition. She tells of Louis' insistence on moving to Winnipeg, Canada, where her daughters would learn to read and write at the Winnipeg Mission. She says "I never learned English or to read or write and I've gotten along fine." In Winnipeg, Louis leaves to hunt and fails to return. As he once told her, "I was born to wander, Margaret; I can't stay in one place." Margaret narrates how she finally packed up her children and returned to Montana. In January of 1870, Margaret, along with her daughter, Louise, is caught up in the raid by the US Army known as the Maria's Massacre (Baker's Massacre) and taken prisoner. Her story of survival was aided by the intervention of Vital Turcotte. A harrowing time of tiemperatures hovering at minus 30 degrees, when the only way to keep warm was to compromise. In Margaret's own words, "I was glad I was a woman. I was glad I had something to trade."
ASIN: B0F9VHBV6X
VSKU: BVV.B0F9VHBV6X.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Tate, Savannah|Wynn, P S
Binding: Paperback
Note: Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.
Condition Notes: The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover, if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.