Phillip ‘Smiley’ Whiteman looking ahead to his next saddle bronc ride. Big Timber rodeo, Montana 2022
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.
Cole Reddy adjusts his straps. Pine Ridge Reservation South Dakota 2022
Since its formation in 1976, the INFR (Indian National Finals Rodeo) has provided safe platforms for animals and riders throughout North America culminating for a week long competition at the South Point Casino, Las Vegas.
The lucky few like Phillip ‘Smiley’ Whiteman also compete in the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) in a wider pool of competitors, representing their First Nations communities on a National level.
Left to right: An INFR rider breaks out of the shoot. Oglala Lakota Nation rodeo, Pine Ridge, South Dakota – A PRCA saddle bronc rider walks back to the chutes. Big Timber rodeo. Montana – A ranch rider winner throws money to crowd. Eagle Ranch, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 2022
Doug Hancock
is an award-winning Dutch film director, cinematographer and photographer, best known for his observed, intimate storytelling. A respected name within the Amsterdam commercial industry, his first documentary, Robert Mims the Texan Bull Rider, was celebrated at several international film festivals and was shortlisted for best short documentary at Big Sky Film Festival in 2018. His documentary Riders of the Buffalo Nations is in pre-production with production planned for 2023/24. Click here for the other parts of this blog series.
