In 1915 Russell collaborated with his friend the Montana writer Frank Bird Linderman in the publication of a collection of Blackfoot, Cree, and Ojibwa fables titled Indian Why Stories. The central character of these tales was Napa or Old-Man, one of the strangest characters in Native American folklore, who alternated between the roles of creator, trickster, and fool. Linderman had Napa describe his own appearance: “My nose is large and red because I kept poking it into other people’s business. My eyes are small and close together from peeping into forbidden places and seeing things that I should not see. My mouth is large and jolly from laughing, laughing, laughing at the foolish things the people do, who think they are wise.” These were distinctive facial qualities that Russell used to fashion models such as this doll-like figure, replete with caricature and intended for the Glacier National Park tourist market.