Indigenous rodeo imparts culture

Brady Grove, Times Reporter
The 5th annual Blackfoot Cultural Show and Rodeo demonstrated indigenous horsemanship and traditional culture over the Canada Day weekend at the Strathmore ag grounds.
Participants and fans travelled to take part in the competition but also to share Blackfoot culture.
“We wanted to promote our Indian rodeo and Indian relay race off the nation,” said Lavina Many Guns, president of the Blackfoot Warrior Party Horsemanship Film Society which hosted the rodeo. “We tried to do cultural activities like why we have the teepee.”
The society is an independent, non-profit organization with a mandate to preserve indigenous language, culture and history.
Along with the educational component was the rodeo, which featured 190 competitors clashing in multiple events including calf roping, steer riding and relay races. The athletes created their own costumes which included traditional headdresses to bright blue and gold jumpsuits.
It wasn’t just the athletes competing as the horses were just as much a part of the competition. Many Guns stressed the importance of the relationship between the rider and animal.
“They have to be one with the horse,” said Many Guns. “Before when they were hunting the buffalo they had to have all kinds of skill to hunt.”
The rodeo received significant sponsorship from multiple businesses such as TransAlta, Red Crow College and Red Wings Custom Designs.
According to Many Guns, most of the people involved are from the Blackfoot tribes but some came from the Blood tribe.
The society wants to grow the rodeo to draw more people, with the dream to bring tourists from as far away as Germany.
“Our goal and vision is to get into the international level,” said Many Guns.
Next year they are hoping to get tour buses to bring people from areas farther away. They are planning on having dancing after the Indian relay race to showcase Blackfoot culture.
For more information, visit Blackfoot Warrior Party Horsemanship Film Society on Facebook.