Thunderpipe and the Holy Man

“Each spring, after they’ve heard the first clap of thunder, the Blackfeet open the sacred thunder pipe bundle in the ‘Thunder Pipe Ceremony.’ It is a ritual that lasts all day, with many prayers and blessing to the people. In this scene, the holy man walks and chants with the thunder pipe and the holy woman, his wife, stands behind him. In reality, she would not be behind him, but because of her importance in the ceremony, I felt that she should be included in this composition.”