Y Blackfoot Iolo ac Indiaid America

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-I'm Iolo Williams and I'm

-on a journey across North America...

-..visiting Native American tribes

-from the Navajo to the Cherokee...

-..from the wild west

-to the mountains of the north.

-These were the inhabitants

-of this incredible continent.

-I'm here to learn about the people,

-their culture, language...

-..spiritual beliefs

-and harmony with nature.

-I want to know what we can learn

-from this unique way of life.

-Join me on a journey of discovery...

-..across one of the world's

-most striking continents.

-What a start

-to North American Indian Days...

-..here in Browning, Montana.

-They call this

-Running of the Horses.

-Welcome to the land of horses.

-Welcome to Blackfoot country.

-This is the story

-of the tribe's exciting journey...

-..to become the world's

-most skilful horsemen.

-I'll see amazing scenery

-as I meet the wisest and bravest...

-..of this iconic tribe.

-The colours are amazing

-and the noise deafening.

-Can you can imagine such scenes

-on the Eisteddfod stage?

-Their unique

-hunting and fighting methods...

-..have produced

-accomplished horsemen to this day.

-He's in the lead, but not by much.

-Horses are integral to their lives.

-We'll discover the source

-of this unique relationship...

-..and how the horse has allowed

-the tribe to define its identity.

-This is the story of the Blackfoot.

-This is the iconic tribe

-of north-west America.

-Found in reservations

-across vast plains...

-..the Blackfoot dominate a large part

-of US and Canadian territory.

-As with many native tribes...

-..the white man put an end

-to their traditional way of life.

-The language is dying and there are

-social problems within the tribe.

-The tribe's history

-is split into two periods.

-An ancient time when they hunted

-on foot with dogs...

-..and the last 300 years,

-when they hunted with horses.

-This creature revolutionized

-their hunting methods.

-It's a revolution that has defined

-the tribe as supreme horsemen.

-My journey begins in Canada...

-..at the foot of the Rockies,

-on the vast plains of Alberta.

-I'm visiting a ranch

-to spend time with a master at work.

-In Blackfoot culture,

-the measure of a man's wealth...

-..is his horses, not money.

-At the age of 84, with hundreds

-of horses on a huge ranch...

-..Pete Standing Alone

-is a wealthy and important man.

-I think that Pete

-is the old man in the hat.

-You must be Pete.

-I'm Pete Standing Alone, yep.

-I'm Iolo. Pleased to meet you.

-Pleased to meet you.

-This is the Standing Alone family.

-They're real-life cowboys.

-They're going to round up

-cattle and calves for branding.

-They'll use hot irons to brand

-the cattle as a mark of ownership.

-The cattle are about a mile away

-in the distance.

-Watching them at work

-will be interesting.

-I hope to see why the horse...

-..is so crucial

-to the tribe's way of life.

-I'm learning from a man

-who has reared horses for 60 years.

-My father taught me

-how to rear horses.

-I'll never give it up. It's my life.

-At one time,

-he owned more than 500 horses.

-Some were tamed as work horses...

-..while others were broncos for that

-true wild west pastime, the rodeo.

-It's like a scene from a western.

-John Wayne and the boys

-rounding up the cattle.

-But these aren't cowboys,

-they're Indians.

-They're bringing them through this

-gate. They know exactly what to do.

-In the same way as watching

-a shepherd and his sheepdog...

-..seeing the cowboys control a herd

-of unruly cattle is enchanting.

-They are separating the calves

-from their mothers...

-..and branding them.

-Some unfortunate ones

-will be mercilessly castrated.

-It's effortless.

-He can do it one-handed

-while speaking on the phone.

-Though most of the work is left

-to his son and other cowboys...

-..Pete is definitely in charge.

-They have all learnt from him.

-I'm in the right place

-to learn about the horse.

-Do you have a special affinity

-with the horse?

-The horse and the Blackfoot

-share a very special relationship.

-The horse transformed our lives and

-made us strong hunters and warriors.

-The Blackfoot were feared by all.

-Pete doesn't like this.

-He likes the wood fire.

-When he was young,

-that's all there was.

-Pete's son, Fagan, told me...

-..that few children want to follow

-their fathers into agriculture.

-It's hard graft

-from morning until night.

-They would prefer a nine-to-five job

-so that they can go home.

-But he thoroughly enjoys it.

-He's a true cowboy.

-His father, Pete, is more prudent.

-He's a traditionalist.

-He still speaks the language

-and tries to uphold old traditions.

-That's evident

-from his farming methods.

-They both contrast each other.

-But Fagan respects his father

-and his methods...

-..which is heart-warming to see.

-How did the horse became a part

-of the Blackfoot tradition?

-The horse was introduced

-into our lives in 1730.

-Within a century,

-we had totally mastered them.

-They are machines

-that make our lives easier.

-Our lives are changing - there are

-fewer ranches on the reservation.

-But we'll never live without horses.

-That would break our hearts.

-They get to work straight away.

-The calves will be roped in turn

-from the corral and branded.

-It's immediately clear how difficult

-this would be without a horse.

-Pete is straight in there

-with the branding iron.

-Between the strength of the horses

-and cowboys...

-..the cattle don't stand a chance.

-It's time for me

-to learn how to handle a calf.

-On there? OK.

-Yeah, I've got it. Like that.

-Lean back.

-Me up first?

-Me up first?

-

-Me.

-OK, go on then.

-They may be small,

-but they're strong.

-I had to hold on to it tightly.

-I'm glad that I didn't get

-one of the bigger ones.

-They're incredibly strong creatures.

-After mastering the art

-of handling a calf...

-..I now have to learn how to brand.

-You have to apply pressure

-for five seconds.

-I'm sure that it's painful

-for the calf, but it's over quickly.

-They're fine afterwards.

-It's great to see the process

-through to the end.

-These men on horseback

-with their lassoes...

-..rope their hind legs

-and drag them out.

-It takes no time at all.

-It's hectic now that they're

-catching two at a time.

-Amid the dust and the smoke...

-..I'm drowning

-in this unique atmosphere.

-As the branding and castrating

-continues, I chat to Leonard...

-..a friend of Pete's

-and an expert on Blackfoot culture.

-As a child, ranching was the only

-livelihood on the reservation.

-Horse culture was everything.

-There were no cars here.

-It's nice to see the community

-working together like this.

-It's a rare sight nowadays.

-Are you going to end off your day...

-..by having a dish

-of the prairie oysters...

-..to bring a little bit of spark

-into your life?

-Even I know what they are!

-Apparently, it's customary

-for first-time ranch hands...

-..to eat one of the testicles.

-It's cooking on the fire

-over there.

-I've told him to cook it well.

-I don't want it rare!

-It has to be well done!

-That's disgusting!

-That's disgusting!

-

-Grab it good! Grab it good!

-Grab it like this.

-There you go.

-There you go.

-

-I have to eat that?

-I'm not sure I should say this,

-but it's very tasty...

-..considering where it came from.

-It's very nice.

-All done? All done.

-Well done. Well done, boss man.

-Now it's the beer.

-Now it's the beer.

-

-Now it's the beer, right.

-It might be piss warm,

-but it's still beer.

-As well as being unforgettable,

-today's events have convinced me...

-..that the Blackfoot

-are masters of the horse.

-As the ranch settles down,

-I take the chance to ask Leonard...

-..about this incredible creature.

-Is there a spiritual side

-to this very close relationship...

-..between the Blackfoot

-and the horse?

-We're looking over hallowed ground

-called Chief Mountain.

-Legend has it

-that this is where the horse...

-..a gift from the Thundergod,

-descended to earth.

-I don't know about that, but horses

-definitely transformed our world...

-..and turned us

-into kings of the prairie.

-Horses are very prominent

-in our contemporary culture.

-They decorate our tepees

-and feature in our songs.

-As I leave the ranch,

-it's hard to believe...

-..how much I've learnt

-about the lifestyle in one day.

-I feel as though Pete and his gang

-have immersed me in their culture.

-I'm reminded of one thing

-as I leave.

-Through all the changes

-in their history...

-..have the Indians

-since become cowboys?

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-I'm on an epic journey...

-..through the unique world

-of the Blackfoot Native Americans.

-I'm crossing the border from Canada

-to the USA to the next reservation.

-The Blackfoot walked this land...

-..long before boundaries

-were imposed by the white man.

-I've reached Browning, Montana...

-..the Blackfoot's main town...

-..and the location for the North

-American Indian Days festival.

-Despite my wonderful experience

-with Pete yesterday...

-..and the picturesque drive

-along the Rockies, I'm saddened.

-I drove through

-Montana's pretty countryside...

-..past its wealthy towns...

-..into the province itself...

-..to the Blackfoot reservation,

-and the atmosphere has changed.

-It's a run-down area

-strewn with rubbish.

-This is Browning.

-It's not a nice thing to say,

-but it's a real dump.

-It's the Fourth of July,

-American Independence Day.

-Ironically, the Blackfoot

-are celebrating something...

-..that changed their lives

-for the worse, including alcohol.

-Happy Fourth of July to both of you.

-Happy Fourth of July.

-Happy Fourth of July.

-Happy Fourth of July.

-Shall I take my jacket off

-and show my muscles?

-You can show your muscles if you

-want to. Let's have a look at them.

-They're only small.

-It's a warm yet sad welcome

-to the reservation.

-I make my way over

-to the other side of town...

-..for a horse-racing event.

-It's the Fourth of July,

-US Independence Day...

-..and an Indian relay race

-on horseback is taking place here.

-I want to see

-exactly what it involves.

-There's quite a crowd here.

-I'm told that they get excited

-and shout a lot.

-Racing is an important event,

-with lots of money taken in bets.

-As well as familiar flat racing...

-..there's also

-a uniquely Native American race.

-All I know about this relay race...

-..is that they have to change

-three times.

-They go round once, change horses

-and do two more laps...

-..before finishing.

-I know no more than that.

-It'll be interesting to see.

-This is obviously the race

-that everybody wants to see.

-They've started to shout

-and everybody's on their feet.

-These races developed

-from warring techniques.

-During a battle, if a horse

-grew tired or was wounded...

-..riders jumped onto another horse.

-They are bareback.

-Riders have to depend on great skill

-and courage to win the race.

-The only difference

-since those combative days...

-..is that money and kudos

-are today's spoils.

-The riders' lives

-are still at stake.

-When they get to here,

-it goes crazy.

-There are so many teams.

-They have to change horses.

-This is the second time around.

-They have to find their horse.

-Flippin' heck!

-Did you see that?

-The rider in the red jersey

-fell underneath the horse.

-There's so much dust when they pass

-that I can't see a thing.

-That was incredibly exciting.

-The dust

-and the sound of people shouting.

-These relay races...

-..celebrate the old skills...

-..of fighting on horseback.

-It's a way

-of keeping that tradition alive.

-It's nice to see

-so many young men riding.

-That tradition has been passed

-from generation to generation.

-It's refreshing to see

-so many young children here too.

-They're watching this

-and feeling the excitement.

-It's something

-for them to aspire to.

-The Europeans

-first brought horses to America.

-They were originally

-cowboys' animals...

-..but I'm starting to sense

-a strong affinity...

-..between the Indians

-and their horses.

-I've come to the stables to learn

-more about these brave riders.

-How are you, son? Are you alright?

-Are you alright?

-You fell underneath the horse?

-Where did it kick you?

-In the knee.

-In the knee.

-

-Oh, man! That's a bit of a mess.

-Nothing broken?

-Will you be back in a week?

-Will you be back in a week?

-

-Yep.

-Good luck next time.

-Look after that leg.

-The big race is held

-at the end of the week.

-I come across one of the young stars

-of these relay races, Sage Momberg.

-That's a race and a half.

-A dangerous race.

-You guys liked that, huh?

-You guys liked that, huh?

-

-Yes. A lot of dust and noise.

-A lot of excitement

-in three or four minutes.

-You've got some big races coming up

-at the end of the week.

-Starting on Wednesday.

-Starting on Wednesday.

-

-Right.

-Is there any chance I could spend

-time with you to see how you train?

-Yeah, sure. Wednesday morning

-we're usually here, sun up.

-If I came round

-Wednesday morning, can I...?

-Up until the race?

-Up until the race?

-

-Yes, I'd like to see the race too.

-If there's anything I can do to help.

-Obviously, I can't ride, but if I can

-do anything to help, that'd be cool.

-Fantastic. Thank you very much.

-Cheers. Thank you for that.

-Fair play to him. I wasn't exactly

-invited. I was a bit pushy.

-But I want to learn more

-about this form of racing.

-I want to see how they train...

-..because it's so different

-from any racing I've seen at home.

-I'm going to spend some time

-with him during the week.

-I hope to stay with him until

-the big race at the end of the week.

-It should be exciting because

-there will be thousands here then.

-On my way back to the hotel,

-I reflect on what I've seen so far.

-From the old to the young,

-horses are central to their lives.

-Having met Pete Standing Alone,

-I can't believe he was 84.

-I also met Sage.

-Pete was an old man

-who understands horses.

-They both share similar traits.

-A love of horses

-and an understanding of them.

-After seeing Pete, I thought

-that horsemanship was dying out...

-..but having met Sage and the others,

-evidently it's not.

-They are the younger generation...

-..who will keep the tradition going

-and pass it on.

-I'm looking forward

-to attending the festival...

-..to find out what goes on there.

-For centuries, horses have been

-central to the Blackfoot lifestyle.

-There is a spiritual quality

-to the relationship.

-I'm eager to find out more about

-the tribe before the Horse Days...

-..back in the Dog Days.

-This place is historically important

-for the Blackfoot.

-An archaeological dig

-is currently under way here.

-I've come to discover more

-about the dig...

-..and also about the tribe's

-old way of life.

-Naturally, their history

-revolves around hunting.

-They're busy digging here.

-Hunting was always

-a dangerous pursuit...

-..especially when you consider

-the strength of the buffalo.

-They developed

-an incredible method for hunting.

-I'm meeting with a Blackfoot sage

-who's helping with the dig.

-How did the Blackfoot live

-four or five centuries ago?

-400 years ago,

-before the white man came...

-..communities would live in tepees

-near cliffs like these.

-Hunting buffalo was dangerous

-for the hunters and their dogs.

-They would scare a herd of buffalo

-and send a stampede over the cliff.

-The horse made it relatively easy

-with a bow and arrow or rifle...

-..to hunt one animal at a time

-over a vast area of land.

-I'm getting a clearer picture...

-..of how the Blackfoot lived

-four or five centuries ago.

-Bob has painted

-a very colourful mental image...

-..of tepees covering this area...

-..with dozens of buffalo stampeding

-over the cliffs to their death.

-But the Blackfoot

-didn't just inhabit this area.

-They lived

-over incredibly vast areas...

-..of north-western America,

-even up in the mountains.

-The Rockies are known

-as the backbone of America.

-You can see why

-when they tower above you.

-This iconic area is teeming

-with all kinds of wildlife.

-That has always been a vital part

-of the Blackfoot spirit.

-Many years ago,

-in order to prove themselves...

-..and earn more respect

-from the tribe...

-..young Blackfoot warriors...

-..would venture up

-to these great mountains.

-They would stay for four days...

-..and four nights

-without food and water...

-..to summon

-some sort of spiritual dream.

-This dream would always feature

-a living thing...

-..such as an eagle or buffalo...

-..or maybe a lightning bolt

-that would bring them a message.

-If they received this message,

-they would return to the tribe.

-The respect shown toward them

-increased greatly.

-It was known as a vision quest.

-The warrior spirit is an inherent

-part of the Blackfoot tradition.

-I only hope that the same bravery

-lives on in the tribe today.

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-I'm in Browning, Montana,

-at the foot of the Rockies...

-..to meet the Blackfoot.

-The North American Indian Days

-festival starts tomorrow.

-I'm joining Sage Momberg's

-horse-racing team...

-..to try to learn more

-about their affinity with horses.

-Sage. How are you?

-Are you alright? Good to see you.

-You want some grain in here?

-One scoop only, yeah?

-Come on, lad,

-get your nose into that food.

-In the corner there?

-In the corner there?

-

-Yeah, just dump that wheelbarrow.

-Go and grab that bucket right there.

-Watch the manure.

-Watch the manure.

-

-I can see this is a nice job.

-Thanks for that!

-We need water.

-We need to rinse this out.

-Relax.

-Relax.

-I think we're scaring the horse.

-They don't usually kick,

-but you have to be careful.

-He's looking back at me.

-You have to be careful.

-A good way of keeping them warm

-is to get them to run around.

-Do we get another one?

-Do we get another one?

-

-Yeah, we could get another one.

-I soon realize that handling horses

-looks far easier than it actually is.

-Where did that horse go?

-My horse has disappeared.

-Clearly,

-I hadn't tethered it properly.

-Some of the Indian relay skills

-must date back to the warrior days.

-Yeah. Shooting a bow and arrow,

-chasing buffalo.

-Everyday survival on horseback.

-When you compete

-against other reservations...

-..you compete for your tribe.

-You're a warrior now.

-Everybody has their own way.

-That's just the way it is.

-We don't kill each other no more.

-This is what we do - racing.

-I feel like a warrior.

-It's in my heart.

-It's in my horses.

-It must be really exciting.

-You don't know how warrior

-a guy can get out there.

-It was nice chatting to Sage

-just now.

-I felt as if it was the closest

-I could get in this modern age...

-..to a real-life warrior.

-He has been racing

-since he was 12 years old.

-That's young to start

-because it's so dangerous.

-He's learnt from the older,

-more experienced horsemen.

-Not only how to ride

-but how to look after horses.

-As an onlooker, it's obvious

-that he takes good care of them.

-When the race starts,

-he feels at one with the horse.

-When other tribes come up here

-for the big race...

-..tribes such as the Shoshone

-and the Crow...

-..he says that's when he feels

-that he's gone back two centuries...

-..almost as if he's in battle.

-He has that combative spirit.

-He says that's the closest thing

-we'll get nowadays to a battle.

-And of course, no-one dies.

-I thought that was superb.

-Thank you, Sage.

-Ta-ta, son.

-The big festival

-has finally arrived.

-Browning is packed with cowboys and

-Indians from across North America.

-This is the 2010

-North American Indian Days festival.

-It's quite a spectacle.

-During the day, I'll witness

-all kinds of horse-racing...

-..as well as horse and bull rodeos.

-There's a big powwow here...

-..where everybody dresses up

-in traditional costumes.

-But the festival highlight,

-and the thing I most want to see...

-..is the Indian relay race.

-# The Star-Spangled Banner #

-The national anthem is playing...

-..which is odd, considering

-it's a festival for Native Americans.

-The festival

-has been held for 60 years...

-..and is a combination

-of old and modern events.

-Big money changes hands...

-..and winners go on

-to compete nationally in Las Vegas.

-They call this

-a Native American festival...

-..in spite of the rodeo

-and cowboys everywhere.

-But I've spotted some tepees

-in the distance.

-I hope we see the traditional side

-at the powwow later.

-I see nothing but cowboy culture

-at this Native American festival.

-I ask one of the officials...

-..what makes this festival

-different from any other rodeo.

-You answer that.

-We respected the cowboys' skills

-and they became part of our culture.

-That's how we learnt the rodeo.

-But the relay race and powwow makes

-it a uniquely Native American event.

-People compete in traditional dance

-and drumming competitions.

-Be it cowboy or Indian culture,

-the rodeo is sensational to watch.

-Wow! Goodness me!

-Fair play,

-that was a bareback rodeo.

-The man held on for seven or eight

-seconds before the buzzer went.

-It looks dangerous.

-With tens of millions of dollars

-to be made each year...

-..rodeos are big business.

-They test the different skills

-needed to handle horses and cattle.

-But the dangers are obvious,

-with hundreds injured every year.

-I head over to the other side

-to try to get closer to the action.

-We're at the heart of things here.

-The riders start from here.

-Look how confined this space is.

-That shows you

-how wild these horses are.

-It's confined,

-but it's still trying to get out.

-The cowboys mount them here.

-They hold on tightly

-until the gate is opened...

-..and then it's stay on

-for eight seconds or that's it.

-This man has broken his neck twice,

-but he still gets back on a horse.

-BUZZER SOUNDS

-Whoa! I think the horse

-caught one man down there.

-He's had a knock.

-Are we alright, Johnny?

-When you're right in the middle

-of it, it can be very dangerous.

-It's far worse for them, of course.

-You can sense the thrill of it all.

-The atmosphere is electric.

-These men are very brave and strong.

-There's the man.

-He looks in pain, doesn't he?

-But as good as the rodeo

-is to watch...

-..I've come to see

-Native American culture.

-From what I see

-everyone here behaves like cowboys.

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-I've come to Browning, Montana,

-for the Blackfoot's grand festival.

-It's an eisteddfod of rodeos,

-racing and all things equine.

-Cowboy culture

-is all I've seen so far...

-..but I have a feeling

-that things are about to change.

-I've left the rodeo

-to come and see the grand powwow.

-It's like leaving

-the Royal Welsh Show...

-..and arriving

-at the National Eisteddfod.

-I'm sure it'll be a sea of colour.

-As at all good eisteddfodau,

-among the stalls is a campsite.

-What's happening, guys? Are you

-putting it up or pulling it down?

-What are you doing?

-Instant replay!

-You've got to pull it down again?

-Did you put it up wrong?

-They haven't put the tepee up

-correctly.

-There isn't enough room inside...

-..so they have to pull it down

-and start again.

-Years ago, it apparently took

-three hours to put up a tepee.

-They say it takes them half a day.

-It's clearly a dying art.

-These tepees

-belong to local Blackfoot.

-The owner told me

-that the otter pattern on this one...

-..despite not looking much

-like otters....

-..and the two yellow lines...

-..represent the two local rivers.

-The two yellow dots at the base

-represent the sun and the moon.

-The star denotes north, south,

-east and west.

-They've brought two tepees along.

-This is the other one,

-which I'm not allowed into.

-That's the medicine man's tepee.

-We're not allowed to film in there.

-It's wonderful

-the way they've decorated it.

-Unlike the racetrack...

-..everybody here

-is wearing traditional costume.

-They are getting ready

-for a real spectacle.

-The opening ceremony

-is about to get under way.

-There are tribes here

-from all over America.

-Oregon, Washington,

-Florida, New Mexico.

-It starts with everybody dancing.

-I'd better take my seat.

-RHYTHMIC DRUMBEAT

-Ladies and gentlemen,

-we are bringing in our colours.

-Considering the constant threat to

-their culture from the white man...

-..it's a wonderful feeling

-to watch this ceremony...

-..that celebrates the fact

-that they are still here.

-Dozens of tribes from all over

-America are in this procession.

-The colours are incredible...

-..and the sound deafening.

-Can you imagine such scenes

-on the Eisteddfod stage? Maybe not!

-RHYTHMIC DRUMMING

-No white person

-is allowed in there to dance.

-You have to belong to a tribe

-to be allowed in the circle.

-The way I dance,

-that might not be a bad thing!

-Every tribe has brought along

-a drumming group.

-They play their own songs.

-These are the Chippewa.

-This is a song of praise

-for the warriors...

-..who fought long ago...

-..as well as those

-who are still fighting for America.

-What's special

-is that all the tribes...

-..are dancing to the songs

-of all the drumming groups.

-When it comes to competing,

-there are three different dances.

-One is a traditional dance...

-..closely resembling

-the one danced centuries ago.

-Another is the Fancy Dance,

-which is relatively modern.

-There's also

-the special Blackfoot dance...

-..that they call the Chicken Dance.

-Seeing all the colours and energy

-has been an experience.

-I'm relieved to discover...

-..that Native American culture

-still exists.

-The festival continues

-and today is the big day.

-The Indian relay race.

-The atmosphere has changed here.

-The rodeo has finished

-and they've sealed off that area.

-The racetrack is ready

-and the relay race is about to start.

-The stand is jam-packed

-and Native American music is playing.

-As the climax approaches,

-a song of prayer is offered...

-..to keep the riders from harm.

-I leave the rodeo in search

-of the modern-day warriors.

-I come across Sage and his team

-praying quietly in the stable.

-The tension is palpable.

-I've just spoken to Sage and he's

-like I was before a rugby match.

-I'd sit down or warm up.

-I didn't want to speak to anyone.

-He was very quiet.

-I'll let him be.

-There are only minutes to go

-before the race.

-I'll leave the team alone.

-In the old days, I'm sure this is

-how they felt going into battle.

-My grandfather

-fought in the First World War.

-He said that it went quiet

-before they went over the top.

-They were waiting

-for the call to arms.

-It's the same sort of feeling here.

-They're starting to prepare

-the horses.

-As we make our way to the stadium

-for the race...

-..the atmosphere totally changes

-and my heart begins to pound.

-God only knows

-what's going through Sage's mind.

-Off they go. Off they go.

-Sage is in the lead.

-He's ahead into the first corner.

-Sage's team

-is ready with the horses.

-Go on! Go on, son!

-He's ahead but not by much.

-That wasn't the best exchange.

-But it wasn't bad.

-Sage is in the lead. Come on.

-Come on, son!

-Come on, Sage! Get a good one!

-Come on, come on, come on.

-Go on, go on.

-Oh, no, no, no, no!

-Anything can happen

-in a race like this.

-He got off to a great start,

-but the horse turned.

-A lot of it

-is down to luck and courage.

-They're very brave

-because it's so dangerous.

-He's got a lot of ground to make up.

-He's miles behind.

-WILD CHEERING

-The yellow team won.

-Sage hung on in there

-until the final lap.

-But the exchange was all wrong.

-That's what lost him the race.

-You can't win them all.

-Congratulations to the yellow team.

-Luckily, I didn't bet on Sage!

-The race was an exciting climax.

-The difference between cowboys

-and Indians is now clear.

-They're all skilful horsemen...

-..but Sage and the other Blackfoot...

-..put their affinity with the horse

-above all else.

-Sage not only masters the horse,

-he's at one with it.

-He entrusts his body and soul

-to the horse during the race.

-My time with the Blackfoot ends...

-..amid the hubbub

-of North American Indian Days.

-It has been an exciting journey.

-My hands are still trembling.

-But what is life like

-for the Blackfoot tribe nowadays?

-I can say that many old traditions

-have died out.

-Their language is dying out.

-But the feeling I get...

-..is that as long as horses

-remain in Montana...

-..so will the Blackfoot.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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