Blood Tribe soldier’s story to be featured on BBC war history series

Westwind Weekly News Photo by Brendan Miller. ON AIR: A television crew from the U.K. is seen interviewing Elder Charlie Fox outside the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medine Hat, to be used in a BBC Two series.

By Brendan Miller
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Prior to enlisting in the Great War in 1916, Mike Mountain Horse served as a scout with the North-West Mounted Police in Lethbridge and came from a family of warriors of the First Nations Blood Tribe.

At that time most Canadian soldiers were English-speaking of British descent, however according to the Hill 70 Memorial chronicle of his life, Mountain Horse wanted to prove that First Nation warrior ethic had not been lost on the reserve.

During his two years of service Mountain Horse bravely fought in the battles of Cambrai, Amiens and Hill 70, as well as the battle of Vimy Ridge.

Mountain Horse was wounded three times in battle and received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his service.

Throughout his deployment Mountain Horse stayed close to his Indigenous roots, often taking time to pray.

He also recorded his war experience but using a cowhide robe as his canvas and drew significant events he had experienced during the war.

Traditionally, story robes are used to detail hunts, encounters and other important events in Indigenous culture, and are typically made of buffalo hides and pigment.

Following his service in Europe, Mountain Horse was recognized as a hero by members of the Blood Tribe, and because of his service with the NWMP the white community also recognized him as a hero and included him in veterans’ celebrations.

The Mike Mountain Horse Story Robe displays 12 war scenes drawn in black on a yellow painted calf-skin and is currently housed at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre in Medicine Hat.

Earlier this month a film crew from the U.K. had been producing part of the series at the Esplanade featuring the robe for an episode that will focus on the British Empire during the First World War and feature stories of non-caucasian soldiers.

Elder Charlie Fox, leader of the Kainai Nations Sacred Horn Society and member of the Blood Tribe, was interviewed by the film crew on Aug. 14 near a large teepee that was set up outside the Esplanade and served as the location for a ceremonial blessing.

“There are people who served in the war, and so the road that brought the people here (U.K. film crew) is based on Mike Mountain Horse, his story on the road,” Elder Fox told Southern Alberta Newspapers. “It’s for the whole world, you know, to get their history straight.”

The footage captured at the Esplanade will be used in the BBC Two series. Film crews told Southern Alberta Newspapers the episodes will likely air on BBC Two sometime in 2025.