USA: Riders break stereotype of "cowboys and indians" at Native American rodeo

Native American cowboys show they can hold their own at Tohono O'odham Nation rodeo. While Hollywood has firmly implanted the stereotype of what and who "cowboys" should be, many "Indian Cowboys" are forcing people to rethink that stereotype. Rodeos are contests where athletes display many of the skills used on ranches. Rodeo contests are classified as timed or rough stock events. In timed events the athletes try to get the fastest time in events such as calf roping and barrel racing. In the rough stock events, riders attempt to stay atop a bucking bull or horse for eight seconds. Recently, "Indian Cowboys" from native American tribes all over the United States competed in the 69th Annual Tohono O'odham Nation rodeo. "A lot of these guys you'll see at the pro rodeos too, winning. So it's the same calibre of competition, the livestock is the same so other than the fans, mostly its just Indian fans at an Indian rodeo and white fans at an open rodeo. Other than that the competition is just as tough," said Bill Vocu from the Oglala Sioux tribe in South Dakota. The tradition of raising and riding horses is deeply ingrained in the native American culture. After the Spanish conquistadors introduced horses to the continent, native Americans took to the animals using them for hunting and transportation. Later as native Americans were forced onto reservations many turned to work on ranches to make their living. Despite the cultural ties many modern indian Cowboys are in it for the thrill. "If you've never been on a horse it's just strictly awesome, the trill of it, the adrenaline that kicks in that lasts during that time. You're on the side of the shoot you're scared but on the other hand it's awesome," said Felix Cruz of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Still others hope to be a role model in a community where many modern problems such as poverty and unemployment are rampant. "I'm native American and I'm proud and I want to be a spark to the flame that says, 'hey man, if I can do it anybody can do it.' So I would just pretty much like to be a big roll model," said Warren Rubio.

ITN Source | March 2, 2007

Tags:. .culture. .cultural. .attempt. .reservations. .modern