Taxam Films is excited to announce the premiere of the TELUS original feature documentary “Aitamaako’tamisskapi Natosi: Before the Sun,” directed by Banchi Hanuse (Nuxalk Radio). The documentary will premiere on APTN on October 19 at 8 pm ET. The Blackfoot (Siksika) language version will have its broadcast debut on the newly launched APTN Languages channel, airing at 7 pm ET on the same day.
“We are grateful to the language team for their hard work in creating the Blackfoot (Siksika) language version and are honoured 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.
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.
“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.”
The film, which had its world premiere at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and won the prestigious Big Sky Award, has been on a successful film festival run 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 honoured 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.
Images provided by Nicola Pender courtesy of Taxam Films
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