Trinity Bear sported his new ribbon shirt under a worn leather jacket for the first time at the Canadian Western Agribition high school rodeo on Monday.
The bright blue shirt was made by the 13-year-old's kokom, his grandmother. He had been asking about one for a while, and so she said she would make one in time for the youth exhibition in Regina.
"I'm excited to wear it; happy," he said shyly. "It's like a ribbon shirt. It's kind of traditional."
Nicole Bear, Trinity's mom, said the rodeo is a way of life for the family, who are from the Chacachas First Nation near Whitewood, Sask.
"It's part of our Indigenous culture. It's the horse culture, so for us it's second nature. It's part of who we are," Nicole said.
"There's a connection there to the animal. It's not just doing a sport. There's also a spiritual element to it."
Nicole said that's a big part of why her family is embedded in the rodeo.
Nicole is Métis and used to barrel race. Her Cree husband was a professional bull rider, and she said her husband's father and moshom (grandfather) were both cowboys.
Trinity was participating in a long list of events at the youth rodeo, like steer riding, chute dogging, team roping and goat tying.
Source : CBC