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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.

Premiere Date

November 1, 1998

Length

60 minutes

Funding Type

Co-Production, Development

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.