Charcoal (Si-okskitsis)

Scope and Content: Charcoal, a Blood Indian named Si-okskitsis Or Bad Young Man. In September, 1896 Charcoal killed his wife’s lover. In the eyes of the Northwest Mounted Police he was a murderer despite Blood cultural tradition. He fled from the police hoping to avoid capture. On November 30, 1896 Charcoal shot and…

Scope and Content: Charcoal, a Blood Indian named Si-okskitsis Or Bad Young Man. In September, 1896 Charcoal killed his wife’s lover. In the eyes of the Northwest Mounted Police he was a murderer despite Blood cultural tradition. He fled from the police hoping to avoid capture. On November 30, 1896 Charcoal shot and killed Sergeant W. B. Wilde of the NWMP just south of Pincher Creek. The following day he was captured and jailed. After a trial for the two murders, he was convicted and executed at Fort Macleod on March 16, 1897. In the photograph Charcoal’s hands are covered by a hat which implies he might be hiding handcuffs; being in stocking feet is a possible clue that his moccasins had been taken away as well.