Indigenous Artist

My name’s Northstar Stonechild, I’m from Yellow Quill First Nation and currently reside near Regina, Saskatchewan. I’m a bullfighter for the Canadian Cowboys Association, a semi-pro rodeo association which hosts rodeos across Central and Western Canada. Provinces include Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. I’ve been bullfighting for nearly three years and developed amazing relationships within the rodeo industry.

Alongside bullfighting, I’m a pro. Stunt-man in the film industry with ten years of experience in the industry. My film resume includes stunt work on films like The Revenant, Heartland, Outlander, Billy the Kid, productions filmed overseas, and currently working on productions slated to be released in 2025. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals like Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Tom Blythe, Sam Hueghan, and Michael Greyeyes.

Recently, in the 2024 spring season, I was asked to be a Catcher for the Indian Relay team, In It 2 Win It from Mosquito First Nation. After winning Grand Prairie’s $100k show and qualifying for the Championship of Champions in Casper, Wyoming we were invited to compete at the 2024 Calgary Stampede, “The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth”. Despite the Calgary Stampede hosting Indian Relay racing in the last seven years, it was announced to the teams at the beginning of this year's 2024 Calgary Stampede, a team will be crowned a Champion at the end of the ten days. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions from competing for ten days straight, myself and the team, In It 2 Win It were crowned 2024 Calgary Stampede Inaugural Champions.

I share these experiences as an indigenous man who was raised in the “hood” by a single father who suffered with his addictions. A single father who was part of the infamous Sixties-Scoop. A single father who eventually lost his life to addictions when I was ten years old. After his passing, I was blessed to meet and move in with my mother and her partner Albert Pinacie Jr (now acknowledged as “dad”). All though, both parents are Residential School Survivors and suffered through their trauma, they did their best through prayer and ceremony, to raise me and my younger siblings to be self-aware enough to break the cycle.

Thanks to our prayers in ceremonies I am not only fortunate enough to be successful in the professional world but also blessed with many experiences. Growing up, I always heard the elders say “go out in the white man world and live your life but don't forget where you come from. Bring those gifts and teachings back home to share with your community”. Growing up, I learned to understand the importance of my indigenous culture, ceremonies, and community. With these gifts of knowledge and experiences, I am forever grateful and proud to be who I am as an indigenous man, professional, and human.

INDIGENOUS ANCESTRY

First Nations

SELF-IDENTIFICATION

Yellow Quill First Nation