DVD capture

Contributed photo

Travel Directions:
From Hwy 1 (Trans-Canada Hwy), take Morley Road, Exit 131, north 3.6 km to Hwy 1A, turn left (west) on 1A, 12 km to “Buffalo Paddock” sign. Turn left (south) at the “Peacekeepers” building, proceed 0.8 km to gate, continue 0.4 km to the second right hand turn. There is a green dumpster behind the birch trees on your right. Note: If you pass the vandalized building with the flat roof and the “MEN” sign on the front, you have gone too far.

[Alternately, if you are coming from the cliffs at Seebe, turn right (north) onto 1X (the road you came in on), go 2.1 km to intersection of 1A; go right (east) 8.8 km; turn right (south) at “Peacekeepers” building, proceed as directed above.]

The park is officially closed during wintertime though access by foot is feasible, weather permitting. You might want to contact Ray Greenwood, (403) 881-2614, for access arrangements, which may require payment of a $5 fee. Security guards in the area have been known to save paperwork by collecting fees from visitors on the spot.

Remarks:
Both the Sheep Staging areas and the Sheep Tangle scene were shot on the Stoney Reservation at the foot of imposing Yamnuska Mountain. Yamnuska is among Canada’s most famous mountains and has a special place in Stoney heritage and culture. The steep face is a favorite for experienced professional climbers, but intermediate hikers can access the summit along a trail that skirts the western slope. See:

http://www.rmbooks.com/Peakfinder/peakfinder.ASP?PeakName=Yamnuska+

The snowy peaks that we see in the film are imposed. Though you might be forgiven for missing the similarity, they are the same mountains shown on the postcard that we see in the final scene (Mount Lougheed and Windtower). For a fascinating explanation of how this and other effects were accomplished, see:

http://www.buzzimage.com/en/work/making_of/33/

Although this is a park, please be mindful that it is Native land and worthy of special respect. One indignant resident complained to us about “that (expletive) gay cowboy movie.” Though it was painful to hear this, it’s important to remember that Native people certainly have precedent for mistrusting outsiders. As if the legacy of broken treaties and genocide, which parallels U.S. history, was not tragic enough, Christian missionaries in this area did their utmost to demonize homosexuality and two-spiritedness; meanwhile Native youth were taken from reservations for education in church schools where, tragically, some were sexually abused. So in this sorry context, we urge you to respect the Stoney land, and recognize that it takes time, patience and understanding on all sides to correct the wrongs of the past.

For first-person information on this scene, seek out Alberta cowboy Kim Anton who portrays the weathered Basque counter in the sheep-staging scenes. Kim shares his vast knowledge of cowboy history and lore as a guide at the Bar U National Historic Site, a preserved working 19th century cattle ranch 13 km south of Longview on Hwy 22. See:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ab/baru/visit/visit1_E.asp

Important:
Always obtain appropriate permission before entering private property and Native reserve lands. You may encounter horses roaming. Drive slowly and be prepared to stop. Do not leave valuables in parked cars.

Quotation:
“You wanna watch it there. That horse has a low startle point.”