Horse Warriors: Episodic Series
Canada, 2024: 88 minutesdescription
Discover the world of Indigenous Relay Racing with HORSE WARRIORS, a new series on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). CUFF.Docs will be showing Episodes 1, 7, 8, and 13 – the series finale, ahead of its broadcast on APTN.
Created by Alberta filmmakers Dominique Keller and Neil Grahn, the 13-part documentary series follows three teams competing in the biggest and most prestigious Indian Relay competitions across Turtle Island, including the Enoch Gold Cup and Calgary Stampede. The show captures the unique challenges that each team faces, from balancing work and family responsibilities to overcoming injuries and personal strife. With a focus on the mysterious and compelling nature of horse relay racing, HORSE WARRIORS celebrates the spirit and heritage of the plains’ original people.
Season Two of HORSE WARRIORS will air on APTN in September 2025.
DIRECTOR'S BIO
Neil Grahn is a Metis writer and director who was born and raised in Red Deer and has always lived a creative life. He began his career performing and writing comedy, and all his work continues to reflect his unique sense of humour. Neil studied with Keith Johnstone at Calgary’s Loose Moose Theatre and made great use of his improv education when he joined a comedy troupe named Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie. He toured the country for over five years doing comedy and has kept his toe in that genre to this day. He was head writer for CBC Radio One’s ‘The Irrelevant Show’ for seven years and improvises semi-regularly in theatres around Edmonton. Neil has also enjoyed himself making documentary television series. He’s created and written seven national TV series and is currently working on HORSE WARRIORS for APTN. long with his documentary series and comedy work, he is also a dramatic playwright and has a new play ‘The Two Battles of Francis Pegahmagabow’ debuting this fall at Varscona Theatre in Edmonton. Neil also enjoys cycling and pickleball.
DIRECTOR'S BIO
A documentary filmmaker with over 20 years experience in the biz, Dominique Keller is most comfortable travelling to remote locations and spending quality time with strangers. Dominique loves to meet unique people, get to know them and tell their stories. Dominique recently completed the NFB feature documentary LOVE: THE LAST CHAPTER a film that found her living in a Calgary Senior’s residence for over a month. When she’s not hanging out in senior residences, Dominique loves to mountain bike, rock climb and weight lift. Currently, Dominique travels around Alberta and Montana filming with some of the country’s top indigenous relay racers for the APTN documentary series, HORSE WARRIORS.
details
Documentary / Action / Sport
English88 minutes
special guest
Show Participants in Attendance
credits
Show Creators, Directors & Producers
Neil Grahn
Dominique Keller
Director
Kevin Littlelight
Screenwriters
Helen Metella
Neil Fleming
Conni Massing
Weyme Teeter
Neil Grahn
Dominique Keller
Cinematographers
Nathanial Harper
Jeremy Pollock
Mike Sorel
Jarret Twoyoungmen
Sergio Olivares
John Barata