Sally Thompson’s ‘Black Robes Enter Coyote’s World,’ Part One: Father Pierre-Jean De Smet

In this first half of a two-part conversation, anthropologist Sally Thompson discusses her award-winning book, *Black Robes Enter Coyote's World*, which explores the complex encounter between Jesuit missionary Father Pierre-Jean de Smet and Montana's Bitterroot Salish people during the mid-19th century. Thompson traces de Smet’s journey from his restless youth in Belgium, through his clandestine escape to America as a young Jesuit, to his eventual role as a missionary, cartographer, and cultural observer in the American West. She reflects on how de Smet’s motivations were shaped by adventure, religious calling, and the geopolitical currents of the time, including U.S. expansion and the Monroe administration’s push for Native assimilation. Thompson also unpacks the paradox of de Smet’s legacy: a man who both documented Indigenous cultures with reverence and participated in systems that enabled colonial displacement. The episode highlights the tension between genuine curiosity and imperial ambition, as well as the Indigenous communities’ own complex responses—some embracing Christianity while fiercely resisting cultural erasure. Through meticulous research and narrative depth, Thompson reframes de Smet not as a simple evangelist but as a product of his era, whose life reflects the broader collision of worlds. Key takeaways include: de Smet’s missionary work was deeply intertwined with U.S. expansionist policies, even if unintentionally; Indigenous peoples had already been exposed to Catholicism through earlier contacts, complicating the narrative of 'first contact'; the Jesuits’ role was not purely spiritual but also political and economic; de Smet’s writings reveal both empathy and blind spots, particularly regarding slavery and land use; and the book’s central theme is the contrast between Indigenous and European worldviews—especially regarding land, time, and belonging. Thompson’s own journey as a researcher and writer underscores the importance of listening to multiple perspectives and resisting reductive narratives.