Backbone of the World: The Blackfeet

The Film

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.