Indian Rodeo rides into the RMTC

By Dale Woodard on August 11, 2021.

Indian rodeo was once again riding tall in the saddle with its first event after the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

The weather had cooled off considerably Sunday afternoon, but there was still some hot riding and roping and some equally high stakes as the Blood Tribe Agricultural Society Rodeo came to a close at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club.

Although there were a few buck-offs in the saddle bronc, bareback, junior bulls and bull riding and some missed attempts in the roping events, there were still valuable points up for grabs which were snapped up as the riders eye their prime goal.

That goal is a trip to Las Vegas later this year for the Indian National Finals Rodeo Oct. 19-23.

“This is part of the (Indian Rodeo Cowboy Association) tour,” said Floyd Big Head, tour rodeo announcer and the voice of Indian rodeo. “We have 11 regions and they were allowed to host one tour rodeo. They have a few rodeos which they call wild cards and those count as tour rodeos. Since there are no regional rodeos this year, they are taking the top-15 to go to Las Vegas for the Indian National Finals Rodeo.”

Which made Saturday and Sunday’s stop at the Rocky Mountain Turf Club a key one as riders look to keep picking up the points that will send them to Nevada in October.

“This is an important stop, especially for the guys who are sitting in the top-15,” said Big Head. “They’ve earned points into the tour standings, so that’s important, to get the tour points. We’re awarding the champions just for this rodeo.

“There have been five already, down in the States they’ve had several. I think there might be one up north.”

There will be another tour stop in southern Alberta next month as the Kainai Tour Rodeo takes place Sept. 3-5 in Standoff.

“The one in Standoff next month, we are hoping that will be a qualifier,” said Big Head. “They’ve had five qualifying rodeos so far and the winners of those rodeos automatically get into the INFR.”

At the conclusion of Sunday’s rides, the championship belt buckles were handed out.

Taking top spot in the junior breakaway event was Jayton Day Chief, while Cam Bruised Head took home the belt buckle in the bareback event.

Keenan Crane won the steer wrestling event, Cammie Fox topped the ladies breakaway and Marvin Yellowbird was first in senior breakaway.

In tie down roping, Jake Fox took the championship belt buckle while Shade and Sons claimed the saddle bronc.

In the team roping event, header Troy Crawler and heeler David Bearspaw earned top spot.

The senior team roping duo of Jeff Fox (header) and Marcel Saulteaux (heeler) were the overall winners.

Janae Devine and Checotah Many Grey Horses were the winners in the ladies and junior barrels, respectively.

Tahj Wells won the junior bulls and Coy Doore placed tops in the bull riding event.

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