Riders of the Buffalo Nations

Blog overview

‘Riders of the Buffalo Nations’ is a documentary book and film project from filmmaker & photographer Doug Hancock. The project explores how, despite being introduced by settlers, rodeo has become an integral part of First Nations community life. ‘Riders of the Buffalo Nations’ follows several cowboys from First Nations families in the Pine Ridge and Northern Cheyenne reservations, spanning South Dakota and Montana. Images for the book were captured (with Kodak film stock) in 2022 and a preview will be shown in this blog series.

Competition: Life on the Road

By Doug Hancock

March 16, 2023

There are hundreds of rodeo arenas built on the edges of small towns throughout the midwest. Amongst them even more less formal ranch rodeos where riders prove their ranch skills to their peers. Since its formation in 1976, the INFR (Indian National Finals Rodeo) has provided safe platforms for animals and riders throughout North America …...

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Landscape: Loss & Healing

By Doug Hancock

March 9, 2023

Life on the reservations is tough for many and for different reasons. Generational trauma and isolation can mean that making a living is difficult but people do what they can. They are used to finding ways to cope. Donnie Shockey Two Bulls, a veteran marine and ex-police officer, set up a stall to sell jewelry …...

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First Nations Relay Racing: All Aboard the Sioux Express

By Doug Hancock

March 2, 2023

First Nations Relay Racing has its own traditions and is a separate special event outside of the usual rodeo circuits. Fast-paced and demanding impeccable horse skills, it is hugely popular on and off reservations. A relay team has four members, a rider, a mugger, a set-up man, and the backholder. Between them they ensure that …...

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Pageantry: Miss and lil’ Miss Rodeo Queens

By Doug Hancock

February 23, 2023

Every Pine Ridge rodeo begins with experienced horse women entering the arena proudly bearing the flags of the nations they ride for, the Oglala Lakota Nation and the United States of America. While female bull riders are rare, women do compete fiercely in the challenges that put ranching skills to the test. The 2022 – …...

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Three Mile Creek Rodeo School

By Doug Hancock

February 16, 2023

It’s easy to think that rodeos are all about those terrifying, bone-shaking seconds in the arena but there’s a huge amount of preparation that goes into becoming a bull and bronc rider, and there are many other tests of skill on display at rodeos too. Not all of which can be learned ranching. In this …...

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Powwow and Rodeo

By Doug Hancock

February 9, 2023

In rural areas, where people can live in isolation much of the time, Agricultural fairs have long been important social opportunities. First Nations communities quickly saw them as one of the few legal ways to gather and preserve cultural expressions, which had been forbidden by settlers. As First Nations communities fought back against oppression and …...

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