A new documentary, ‘Intertribal,’ explores the talents and storytelling of Indigenous artists from Southern Alberta. Written, directed, and produced by Blackfoot filmmaker Trevor Solway from Siksika Nation, ‘Intertribal’ stars Armond Duck Chief, Bebe BuckSkin, Darcy Turning Robe, and Olivia Tailfeathers.

Solway explains that the film was conceived three years ago through a partnership with CJSW, a Calgary campus-based radio station.

“This is something I shot three years ago. It was one of the first projects that I got a grant for, and it was in partnership with CJSW. They had a similar project called Calgary Collective and it featured folk artists from around Calgary. They asked me if I would do something similar for artists in Treaty 7,” he said.

He explained that the film was shot all across southern Alberta. The main locations were Siksika Nation, Calgary and Lethbridge. 

Armond Duck Chief is an exuberant and jovial cowboy country singer, Bebe Buckskin, a free-spirited rock and roller, Darcy Turning Rope, a powwow singer with a storied heritage in traditional Blackfoot singing and drumming, and Olivia Tailfeathers, is an elder who blends contemporary hymns with traditional Blackfoot words.

“We picked those artists because they had so much variety to their music, also to their genre and just who they were as people.”

Watching the film, viewers can glimpse into the lives of the local Indigenous artists and hear their stories through their artistry.

The film’s title refers to a type of dance celebrated at powwows. “At our social gatherings of powwows there’s usually intertribals,” said Solway. “It’s not a time for competitive dancing. It’s just a time for socializing and coming together of cultures. And everybody from the community, whoever is at the powwow really is invited to walk in the circle and dance, sing or visit.”

“When I made this documentary because the artists they interview each other and they appear in each other’s episodes, I thought it was a way of these artists coming together to socialize and celebrate music the same way you do at a powwow,” he said.

Growing up, Solway explained that he didn’t see many Indigenous people on television or in movies.

“I saw one TV station, APTN and one movie, ‘Smoke Signals.’ Now Indigenous people are exploding and we are on the rise more than ever now. I’ve always known that our people we’ve had an oasis of talent and stories that were untapped. I just want to be able to share as many stories as I can and take as many people on this ride as possible.”

He says ‘Intertribal’ is a documentary about music, but also about place. “I think what sets these musicians apart is that all of their music, their inspiration and their songs, it comes from a place. For Bebe BuckSkin, she’s a blues, folk and rock singer. When she is at her happiest is when she is busking on the street and when she is connecting with the people on the street around Calgary,’ said Solway.

“For Darcy it’s near water, even though he grew up as an urban Indigenous person, he would always go back to the rivers in Calgary, the Elbow and Bow river. He would sit with his grandpa and he would sing on their hand-drums and he would offer tobacco. It sounded like a very wholesome experience for him,” he said.

In terms of the release of his new film Solway said, “I feel very excited this is a huge milestone for me, to have my work broadcasted. It took a lot of work to get it here. I can finally rest now and see this project viewed by Canadians and Albertans. I’m very excited to have it go to air.”

‘Intertribal’ will have its broadcast premiere on Saturday, November 7 on CBC Television in Alberta and British Columbia at 7 p.m., and will be available for streaming on CBC GEM from Friday, November 6.

Trevor Solway is a Blackfoot filmmaker from Siksika Nation. He comes from a long line of ranchers but chose to go against the grains and pursue a life in filmmaking. Solway is a champion for community storytelling and often showcases the Siksika Nation and its residents in his films.

More about Solway and CJSW can be found on Facebook and Instagram.