On Thursday Nov. 16, the Williams Lake Film Club is thrilled to screen the award-winning Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun at the Paradise Cinemas in Williams Lake.
The evening will feature a post-screening Q & A with the film’s director, Banchi Hanuse of the Nuxalk Nation in the Bella Coola Valley.
Many in Williams Lake are familiar with Indian relay. In Blackfoot Country (with traditional territory spanning parts of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, as well as northern Montana), it’s referred to as “North America’s original extreme sport.”
A short synopsis for those unfamiliar with the high adrenaline event: the rider races the first horse around the track, and then once that lap is complete, they leap off that horse and jump onto another, with one critical component - riding bareback.
The men’s race entails three loops around the track with three different horses, whereas in the women’s race there are two laps, with two different horses.
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi, which took home Best Feature Length Documentary at this year’s Leo Awards, features the story of Logan Red Crow, who made history as the first female to compete in Canada in Indian Relay at the 2021 Calgary Stampede for her father’s team (men’s Indian relay first came to the Calgary Stampede as an event in 2017).
As director Banchi Hanuse explains it, “[h]er story stood out as a really captivating journey that would be empowering for young Indigenous women (Windspeaker 2023).
We travel with her as she prepares at home in the Siksika Nation (part of the Blackfoot Confederacy), and competes in both Calgary and Enoch, Alberta, as well as Casper Wyoming, USA.
Woven throughout the film is family connection – Logan’s father Allison, who runs the Old Sun Relay racing team and owns Three Suns Ranch, is supportive, but fully aware of the dangers inherent to the sport. The more she races, the more his concern grows.
Predominant themes include female empowerment, dedication and perseverance, and the deep connection between humans and horses.
“I feel like there is something about this documentary that makes people just want to be better, more compassionate and empathetic humans, just like the Red Crow family in the film. I want viewers to carry that into their own lives and feel inspired to make their own dreams possible” says filmmaker Hanuse (Winderspeaker 2023).
Hanuse is also the co-founder and station manager of Nuxalk Radio. Her previous work includes the short docs Cry Rock (2010) and Nuxalk Radio (2020). Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun is her debut feature length documentary (VIFF 2023).
Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun will be screening on Thursday Nov. 16 at the Paradise Cinemas (78 Third Ave South). Tickets are $10. Advance tickets are now on sale at The Open Book, and remaining tickets will be sold in the cinema lobby prior to the screening.
Tickets are selling quickly so please buy yours in advance to avoid disappointment at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m.
This event was made possible with the support of the Cariboo Regional District and the City of Williams Lake via the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society. The Williams Lake Film Club gratefully acknowledges our partnership with Film Circuit, presented by TIFF, and its sponsors and supporters.
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