By Tyrone Sitting Eagle
Trevor Solway, a Blackfoot filmmaker from Siksika, recently premiered his documentary Siksikakowan, The Blackfoot Man. The film offers an unfiltered exploration of Blackfoot masculinity, following a variety of Blackfoot men in their everyday lives. It captures a wide range of experiences, highlighting activities and traditions from different backgrounds, including sports, exercise, cattle ranching, music, powwow, and more. This was also a four-year process, that included up to 90 days of filming.
One key aspect of the film that Solway emphasized is its unfiltered lens, with no predefined storyline. Solway was determined not to impose his own narrative or beliefs about Blackfoot masculinity onto the film. Instead, he aimed to portray it authentically, allowing the subject matter to speak for itself. To achieve this, he kept the camera rolling, capturing as much as possible in an effort to truly reflect the diverse experiences of Blackfoot men. In turn, the moments that are seen throughout the documentary, are very vulnerable moments that are captured, this is one of the goals of the documentary. “I didnt want to impose my own beliefs on what being a Blackfoot man was. Usually with documentaries, although it captures real events, still has that aspect of acting. I wanted to capture real moments from many diverse backgrounds. Keeping the camera rolling was something that I did, over these four years of making the film,” said Solway.
Although the film featured many different moments, one recurring theme was the vulnerability of Blackfoot men. While they are often perceived as strong, tough, and stoic, the film highlighted their deeper emotional side, showing that they can also be vulnerable and hard on themselves. This authenticity was a powerful aspect of the documentary. The audience responded overwhelmingly positive, sharing that it was an emotional experience and expressing how meaningful it was to see familiar faces from their community on the big screen.
In doing so, Solway showcased exceptional skill and storytelling by crafting a film that was truly unique. He introduced a fresh approach to filmmaking by not following a traditional narrative structure. Instead, he captured raw, unfiltered moments from diverse backgrounds, allowing the individuals themselves to tell their own stories. This innovative method of storytelling, where the story unfolds organically, brought a new perspective to the art of documentary filmmaking.
