Backbone of the World: The Blackfeet

Filmed amid the beauty of the Rockies, Backbone of the World: The Blackfeet recounts the tale of the Badger-Two Medicine, the last Blackfeet sacred treaty land threatened by a government call for oil exploration.
Series
Premiere Date
November 1, 1998
Length
60 minutes
Funding Type
Filmed in the Blackfeet homelands of Canada and Montana's northern Rockies, Backbone of the World: The Blackfeet tells of the tribe's struggle to heal and forge a new identity amidst the turmoil of 21st century demands and fading cultural mores. The Badger-Two Medicine, the last piece of sacred treaty land threatened by a recent call for oil exploration, becomes a lightning rod for self-discovery and dialogue about complex personal and tribal questions. The Badger issue and the healing legend of "Scarface" become a backdrop for the more personal story of Director George Burdeau's journey back home to live and work on the Blackfeet reservation.