Directed by Banchi Hanuse (Nuxalk Radio), the documentary Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun is an intimate and thrilling portrait of a young Siksika woman and the deep bonds between her father and her family, as she prepares for one of the most dangerous horse races in the world, the Indian Relay.
The documentary follows Logan Red Crow on the golden plains of Blackfoot Territory, as she trains for a race that will propel the determined and skilled young woman into the male-dominated Indian Relay Racing world, where riders vault bareback from horse to horse. As she pushes towards her goal, the connections between animal and human, family and community, ancestral tradition and contemporary life are profound and lasting.
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before The Sun features Logan Red Crow, Allison Red Crow, Racey BigSnake and Jayme BigSnake.
The film, which had its world premiere at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and won the prestigious Big Sky Award, has been at some of the top film festivals in the world including Hot Docs, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the Santa Fe International Film Festival, the San Diego International Film Festival, Doclands, Native Spirit UK and many more. The film has been honored with numerous awards including the Generation Next Audience Choice Award at CIFF, the Best Documentary Feature at the American Indian Film Festival, the Cinema Indigenized Outstanding Talent Award at Cinefest and award wins at the Yellowknife International Film Festival, Available Light Film Festival and five wins at the Leo Awards, including Best Feature Length Documentary.
Directed by Banchi Hanuse and edited by Tanya Maryniak, the film was shot on location in beautiful Siksika Nation, Tsuut’ina, Îyâxe Nakoda, Blackfoot Territory, Enoch Cree Nation ᒪᐢᑫᑯᓯᐦᐠ Maskêkosihk, Casper, Wyoming. Executive producers are Carey Newman, and Izzy Pullen and the film was produced by Mike Wavrecan. Christina Willings is the TELUS originals senior production executive with Ben Giesbrecht and Luke Connor serving as the directors of photography.
“We are grateful to the language team for their hard work in creating the Blackfoot (Siksika) language version and are honored to premiere it on APTN’s new language channel, especially as the recent loss of Blackfoot language speaker Iisomiikopii Clarence Red Crow from the film makes this work even more significant,” says director Banchi Hanuse.
“I would say that we are proud of Logan Red Crow and the positive recognition she is bringing to the sport of relay racing, to her family, as well as to all of Siksika Nation. The Blackfoot have long been known for their horsemanship,” says Nioksskaistamik, Chief Ouray Crowfoot, Siksika Nation. “Through the sport of Indian Relay, Logan and others are making their horsemanship known worldwide. Logan is a great athlete, competing in one of the world’s oldest extreme sports. It takes courage and dedication to jump on these horses and to ride bareback at the speeds she rides. As a young native female, Logan is a trailblazer and an inspiration to many; females and males, natives and; non-natives, young and old. When I see Logan and our other Siksika teams represent so well at events such as the Calgary Stampede, it fills my heart with great pride every time they compete. Logan, keep making all of Siksika proud to call you one of our own.”
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun will premiere on APTN on October 19 at 8 pm ET. A Blackfoot (Siksika) language version will also air the same day at 7pm ET on APTN’s newly launched Languages channel. The film will also be available to audiences on Knowledge Network on November 12, 2024 at 9pm PT. Audiences can watch the film on TELUS Optik TV channel 8 (VOD in Alberta and B.C.) and online at watch.telusoriginals.com and on Paramount+ in Canada.