A Man and the Elk Dog
2017 Immersive
Funded

A Man and the Elk Dog

Experience the origin myth of how the horse came to the Blackfoot people hundreds of years ago. Then see how one modern day Blackfoot elder is working to re-connect the youth to this vital part of their culture.

Length7 min. 34 sec.
GenreDocumentary

Video


Pitch video

Synopsis

It’s customary in the Blackfoot tradition to transfer knowledge, exactly as it was taught to you, by telling stories. The story of how the horse first crossed paths with the Blackfoot is folklore, like a parable from a dream and now myth. Guided by the voice of a Blackfoot elder, this cinematic journey invites the viewer in to be a part of the legend. Patrick Provost, a near 70-year-old Blackfoot man of the Piikani nation in Southern Alberta, has entwined his life with his horses. Having grown up with a deep connection to the animal, he is infamous for breaking and training internationally-renowned colts. His efforts are now all focused on how he can help the youth of today re-connect with this legendary animal so significant to their way of life.


The team

Our team is unique in that it pairs a filmmaker with a Blackfoot elder. Our goal is to create an engaging experience in getting to discover a part of what makes the horse so significant to the Blackfoot tradition.


Production

Interview Roster

TBD Blackfoot Elder
TBD Blackfoot Elder

Patrick would like to include an interview with one of the community's older Elders, as he fears they 'won't make it through the next winter' to hear about the importance of the horse to the Blackfoot.

Tye
Tye

Tye is Patrick’s son who along with Pat are creating an equine therapy camp that brings disaffected and addicted youth into a practice that reconnects them with their culture while treating their challenges. He has gone through special training in the USA to offer these camps, but has adapted them to fit the Blackfoot community and way of life.

Patrick
Patrick

Patrick Provost, a near 70-year-old Blackfoot man of the Piikani nation in Southern Alberta, has entwined his life with his horses. Having grown up with a deep connection to the animal, and was infamous for breaking and training colts and bucking broncos. Selling some of the most renowned horses on the rodeo circuit and to the Calgary Stampede. He lives on a modest plot of land just up the hill from where he grew up on the Piikani reserve.

Production Design

On Patrick's land, he has hosted a Sundance ceremony. Once the building of the structure and ceremony is complete. The structure still remains as it slowly becomes reclaimed by nature. Having the ability to shoot the documentary in an amongst features like this at Patrick's home will allow for a deep immersion into this place for the viewer.
Many horses on the land run-free amongst the open meadows and hills. Property lines don't exist between people and houses on the Piikani reserve, and the horses take full advantage of that. We plan on having the landscape play a large part of the production design.
When we met Patrick and his family, with cameras in hand, we were overcome with awe as nature decided to show us how stunning the feeling of this landscsape could be with a sunset shower, and a rainbow all happening at the same time. With nature so pervasive and beautiful and interesting in Southern Alberta, it'll be hard to not have just beauty shots throughout the whole film.
The feeling of nature is ever present on the land, and we plan on making full use of everything it provides us while shooting.
This was looking Westward at Sunset. The fields lit up gold underneath the rainbow.