Eugene Brave Rock

Last updated
Eugene Brave Rock
Born1978 (age 4546)
OccupationActor
Years active2007–present

Eugene Brave Rock is a Canadian Blackfoot [1] actor and stuntman. He is from the Blood Tribe of Siksikasiitapiisahkoi, or Blackfoot Country. Brave Rock started as an actor, before being trained as a stuntman; he later appeared in various minor television roles before landing his first major film role as Chief in Wonder Woman. [2] [3]

Contents

Biography

Brave Rock grew up on the Kainai Nation reserve in Alberta and attended the Plains Indian Cultural Survival School in Calgary, where he landed his first role in a play. [2] He was later trained as a stuntman, and performed for the Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Disneyland Paris. Upon his return to Calgary, Brave Rock worked on several television productions as a stuntman and actor, taking on minor roles in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee , Heartland, Blackstone, Klondike and Hell on Wheels. [2] When The Revenant began filming in Alberta, Brave Rock and his brother were recruited to train native stuntmen; it was during this time he was contacted by the producers of Wonder Woman, who invited him to audition for a role. Though Brave Rock was not confident of his audition, he was cast in the film a month later. [4] [5]

Brave Rock was honored with a "ceremonial headdress" / war bonnet by Blood Tribe on June 8, 2017, at a ceremony held at the Tatsikiisaapo'p Middle School— a rare, and highest honour given in First Nations culture. [6] [7] [8]

Other work

In 2022 Braverock founded The Oki Language Project. The mission of Oki Language Project is honoring elders and the preservation of languages and culture of Indigenous communities throughout Turtle Island (North America). [9] [10]

His advisory council includes director Chris Eyre, Cheyenne Arapaho, actor Kiowa Gordon - HualapaiCree, actor Zahn McClarnon - Hunkpapa and actor Wes Studi -Cherokee and singer Taboo - Shoshone. [11]

Braverock creates platforms through The Oki Language Project to promote other indigenous artists, like Karen Clarkson - Choctaw, actor/artist Michael Horse -Yaqui, Nicholas Galanin - Cheyenne-Tlingit, Cynthia Pinot - Apache,Tony Abeyta - Navajo, and Dennis Ziemienski. [10] [12]

Brave Rock - Guest speaker at University of Pennsylvania, "Representation, Symbolization and Indigeneity" Slought Foundation, PA, November 15, 2019 [13]

Brave Rock - Guest speaker Princeton University, "The Arts of Anti-Racism and Social Justice" December 15, 2020. [14]

Brave Rock - Guest speaker at the Digital for climate change- Science Summit at the United Nations General Assembly - NYC, SEP 18, 2023 [15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes
2015 The Revenant Alejandro G. Iñárritu stunts
2017 Wonder Woman Chief Napi Patty Jenkins
2020 The Corruption of Divine Providence Chief BirdJeremy Torrie
2021 Montana Story Mukki Scott McGehee and David Siegel
2023 The Oath CohorDarin Scott

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
2016 Hell on Wheels Ute Indian1 episode
2017 Jamestown [2]
2021–present Resident Alien Shane
2022–present Dark Winds Frank Nakai
2022–present That Dirty Black Bag The Stranger
2023 Spirit Rangers CraneVoice
Episode: "Slow and Steady Eddy/Salmon Where Are You?" [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackfoot Confederacy</span> A name used for a group of Native Americans

The Blackfoot Confederacy, Niitsitapi, or Siksikaitsitapi, is a historic collective name for linguistically related groups that make up the Blackfoot or Blackfeet people: the Siksika ("Blackfoot"), the Kainai or Blood, and two sections of the Peigan or Piikani – the Northern Piikani (Aapátohsipikáni) and the Southern Piikani. Broader definitions include groups such as the Tsúùtínà (Sarcee) and A'aninin who spoke quite different languages but allied with or joined the Blackfoot Confederacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kainai Nation</span> First Nation in Alberta, Canada

The Kainai Nation is a First Nations band government in southern Alberta, Canada, with a population of 12,965 members in 2024, up from 11,791 in December 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackfoot language</span> Algoquian language spoken in North America

The Blackfoot language, also called Siksiká is an Algonquian language spoken by the Blackfoot or Niitsitapi people, who currently live in the northwestern plains of North America. There are four dialects, three of which are spoken in Alberta, Canada, and one of which is spoken in the United States: Siksiká / ᓱᖽᐧᖿ (Blackfoot), to the southeast of Calgary, Alberta; Kainai / ᖿᐟᖻ, spoken in Alberta between Cardston and Lethbridge; Aapátohsipikani / ᖳᑫᒪᐦᓱᑯᖿᖹ, to the west of Fort MacLeod which is Brocket (Piikani) and Aamsskáápipikani / ᖳᐢᔈᖿᑯᑯᖿᖹ, in northwestern Montana. The name Blackfoot probably comes from the blackened soles of the leather shoes that the people wore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siksika Nation</span> First Nation in Alberta, Canada

The Siksika Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada. The name Siksiká comes from the Blackfoot words sik (black) and iká (foot), with a connector s between the two words. The plural form of Siksiká is Siksikáwa. The Siksikáwa are the northernmost of the Niitsítapi, all of whom speak dialects of Blackfoot, an Algonquian language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowfoot</span> First Nations chief in Canada (1830–1890)

Crowfoot or Isapo-Muxika was a chief of the Siksika. His father, Istowun-ehʼpata, and mother, Axkahp-say-pi, were Kainai. He was five years old when Istowun-ehʼpata was killed during a raid on the Crow tribe, and, a year later, his mother remarried to Akay-nehka-simi of the Siksika people among whom he was brought up. Crowfoot was a warrior who fought in as many as nineteen battles and sustained many injuries, but he tried to obtain peace instead of warfare. Crowfoot is well known for his involvement in Treaty Number 7 and did much negotiating for his people. While many believe Chief Crowfoot had no part in the North-West Rebellion, he did in fact participate to an extent due to his son's connection to the conflict. Crowfoot died of tuberculosis at Blackfoot Crossing on April 25, 1890. Eight hundred of his tribe attended his funeral, along with government dignitaries. In 2008, Chief Crowfoot was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame where he was recognized for his contributions to the railway industry. Crowfoot is well known for his contributions to the Blackfoot nation, and has many memorials to signify his accomplishments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Potts</span> American-Canadian frontiersman (c. 1840–1896)

Jeremiah Potts, , was an American-Canadian plainsman, buffalo hunter, horse trader, interpreter, and scout of Kainai (Blood) and Scots heritage.

First Nations in Alberta are a group of people who live in the Canadian province of Alberta. The First Nations are peoples recognized as Indigenous peoples or Plains Indians in Canada excluding the Inuit and the Métis. According to the 2011 Census, a population of 116,670 Albertans self-identified as First Nations. Specifically there were 96,730 First Nations people with registered Indian Status and 19,945 First Nations people without registered Indian Status. Alberta has the third largest First Nations population among the provinces and territories. From this total population, 47.3% of the population lives on an Indian reserve and the other 52.7% live in urban centres. According to the 2011 Census, the First Nations population in Edmonton totalled at 31,780, which is the second highest for any city in Canada. The First Nations population in Calgary, in reference to the 2011 Census, totalled at 17,040. There are 45 First Nations or "bands" in Alberta, belonging to nine different ethnic groups or "tribes" based on their ancestral languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Crow Community College</span> First Nation-operated community college in Alberta, Canada

Red Crow Community College is a college located on the Kainai Nation reserve in southern Alberta, Canada with a campus in Lethbridge.

Harley Frank is a member of the Kainai Nation in southern Alberta, Canada. Frank has held a number of notable positions within the Kainai Nation's administration, including being elected Chief, in 1992.

Hugh Aylmer Dempsey, was a Canadian historian, an author and the Chief Curator Emeritus of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta. Dempsey authored more than 20 books, focusing primarily on the history of people of the Blackfoot Confederacy. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary and was made an honorary chief of the Kainai Blackfoot in 1967. For his contributions to the study of the Plains Indians, Dempsey was awarded membership in the Order of Canada in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stand Off, Alberta</span> Locality in Alberta, Canada

Stand Off is an unincorporated community in southern Alberta, Canada within the Blood (Kainai) reserve. It is on Highway 2, approximately 43 km southwest of Lethbridge and 30 km (19 mi) north of Cardston. The people living in Stand Off and on the reserve are a part of the Blackfoot Nation of Canada and the United States. The Blood Tribe (Nation) has the largest landmass in all eleven Numbered Treaties in Canada, (1871–1921).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye HeavyShield</span>

Faye HeavyShield is a Kainai First Nations sculptor and installation artist. She is known for her repetitive use of objects and writing to create large-scale, often minimal, site-specific installations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joane Cardinal-Schubert</span>

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References

  1. "Eugene Brave Rock: Actor & Storyteller". May 2, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald (2016-08-06). "Eugene Brave Rock, actor from Kainai First Nation, to appear in DC's Wonder Woman". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  3. Vincent Schilling (2016-08-02). "Mystery Native Superhero in DC's 'Wonder Woman' is Eugene Brave Rock". Indian Country Media Network. Archived from the original on 2017-06-24. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  4. Friend, David (2017-06-08). "Blood Tribe actor from Alberta on bringing his language to 'Wonder Woman'". Canada's National Observer. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  5. Volmers, Eric (2017-06-02). "How a First Nations First World War hero from Alberta helped Eugene Brave Rock find his character in blockbuster, Wonder Woman". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  6. https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/behind-first-nations-headdresses-1.3506224
  7. "Wonder Woman actor Eugene Brave Rock honoured by Blood Tribe with headdress". Yahoo News. June 9, 2017.
  8. https://ictnews.org/archive/native-actor-eugene-brave-rock-talks-role-wonder-woman#:~:text=Eugene%20Brave%20Rock%20received%20a,dancing%2C%20singing%20or%20riding%20horses.
  9. "Oki Language Project". A+C Foundation.
  10. 1 2 Schulman, Sandra Hale (October 13, 2023). "INDIGENOUS A&E: Artists, snakes and Native 'Power Builders'". ICT News.
  11. "Oki Language Council". Oki Language Project.
  12. "Artist Cynthia Pinot Will Present Her Artworks At The Oki Language Project Auction". PRLog.
  13. "Representation, Symbolization, and Indigeneity - Programs – Slought". slought.org.
  14. "The Art of Anti-Racism and Social Justice: A Conversation with Academy Award Winner Mo'Nique, NY Black Lives Matter's Hawk Newsome, and Indigenous Superhero Eugene Brave Rock". Lewis Center for the Arts.
  15. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://voteearthnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Digital-Democracy-for-Climate-Action-september-5vii.pdf
  16. Joey Clift [@joeytainment] (May 3, 2023). "Spirit Rangers Season 2 comes out May 8th and we just announced a bunch of our voice cast!! It was so fun working with all of these Native and Indigenous superstars and I can't wait for ya'll to hear them in the new episodes! #SpiritRangers" (Tweet). Retrieved September 16, 2023 via Twitter.