This article is part of the editorial series inspired by the ONA Short Film Festival.

On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, the ancestral relationship between humans and horses takes on new meanings. Indian Relay is a traditional sport, an ancient culture passed down from generation to generation. Today, thanks to the non-profit Sage to Saddle and the Dancing Warrior team, it also manages to impact the lives, feelings and perspectives of contemporary Lakota youth. The ‘Dancing Warrior’ documentary, directed by Rachel McDonald and Peter Goetz, takes us to the vast and magical Midwest badlands, where darkness and self-destruction are fought by the stride of noble thoroughbreds, and where humanity rhyme with equine sensibility. William ‘Grandpa Shorty’ Brewer and teenagers Kaden Brings Plenty, Arianna Holiday and Joe Fasthorse are just a few of the protagonists of this cultural and sporting journey: they’re figures who manage to connect past and present, showing us the uniqueness of the Lakota people, revealing their difficulties, and highlighting the essential role of the Dancing Warrior team for their future.

‘Dancing Warrior’ won ONA’s Best Photography award, getting one of the charming trophies inspired by the Venetian spider crab and created by SURI Studio. We end this edition’s editorial series with an interview with its director Rachel McDonald, and discover new details of her evocative documentary production.

First of all, can you tell us what kind of feelings you had watching a traditional sport like the Indian Relay?

“I was mesmerized and truly blown away by the athleticism and the wisdom of these young athletes. I think this sport is something that so many people have never seen. It was not only a lot of fun to film, but also a gift and a unique opportunity to experience a sport that is so deeply rooted in the Lakota’s culture and history. I really just want more people to see these teenagers race, witness the cultural aspect of the sport and see the athleticism that they display, because it’s unreal.”

‘Dancing Warrior’ is the contemporary epitome of the timeless relationship between the Lakota people and horses. What about this connection? And what emotions did the Dancing Warriors share with you?

“I felt very fortunate that the Dancing Warrior team opened up to us in such a generous way and let us be so close to them and their horses. Kaden is a phenomenal athlete and he’s the captain of the team, everyone looks up to him. Arianna has a very unique and soulful connection to the animals, and all the other team members recognize that. The team feels like family and they talk about Arianna’s special connection to these horses. She believes her dad, who she lost pretty young, was reincarnated into a horse and that when she’s on her horse she can hear her dad talking to her. She also mentioned an unspoken language she has with her horses. If one of them gets distracted by something outside of the track — like a noise or the crowd — Arianna can feel it and she speaks to them without words, guiding them back to her through their powerful connection.”

Can you introduce us to the Dancing Warrior team? What about the environment that surround these teenagers?  And why did you choose to focus on so many details to describe them?

“Dancing Warrior is one of the teams that participates in Sage to Saddle. This kind of program helps Lakota youth to get through the harsh times of the winter, to get them away from the substance abuse and some of the things going on on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and to reconnect them to this traditional sport. We really wanted to focus on just celebrating this group of kids. Arianna, for example, is so inspiring for such a young woman… During the interview she said that a lot of people think they have to leave the Reservation in order to improve their lives  – but they should leave it and come back to make the Reservation better. I get chills thinking of her saying those lines. At that time, she was just 15 years old and wise beyond her years. During the filming we were a very tiny crew, but I was with one of my favorites DPs. He’s actually my life partner too. We wanted to feel the soul of everything that was going on, and highlight the spiritual element of this sport and the inspiring teenagers that make up this team. We definitely wanted to capture a very intimate story, and focusing on the small details was also really important for us. In the edit, for example, we chose to put a horse’s eye next to a young Lakota boy’s eye. There was a something very powerful in seeing this beautiful horses’ eyes visually connected to the Lakota people.”

ONA is synonymous with sports storytelling. What does it mean to you to be a storyteller and what do you look for in stories like Dancing Warrior and unique figures like ‘Grandpa Shorty’?

“I love and watch sports. I’ve worked with a few athletes in the past, and I like when you can dig into the relatable and human-side of an athlete, not just the physicality of what they’re capable of. It’s always about the characters for me. So, when you find that special thing about a character and also feel their connection to the sport…. I think that’s the sweet spot, where you can tell a story that hopefully has a more emotional or social impact. Dancing Warrior was a sort of unique situation. When we met the group, we didn’t know what we were going to get, as we initially went out to scout and film the Crazy Horse Ride. Dancing Warrior travels around to compete with other teams from other reservations, and they participate in rides like Crazy Horse. So, at first, we were just along for the ride. Once we were welcomed by ‘Grandpa Shorty’ and the team, the story began to reveal itself more. ‘Grandpa Shorty’, who was the elder and the coach of the team, welcomed us with warmth, and open arms, and then the kids did the same. Again, it just all felt like family. And we even had our six-month-old son with us. If I was not wearing him while we were shooting, he was being passed around or riding ponies with some of the Lakota kids. From the minute we met ‘Grandpa Shorty’, we knew that we were with a very wise elder. There’s so much respect and honour…. He loves these kids and they love him. He was formerly in law enforcement, is Kaden’s grandfather, and kind of adopted Arianna, but everybody calls him ‘Grandpa’. He emanates the warmth and softness of a grandfather, but also a deep protectiveness and strictness of a coach. He gets out there, guide them, and gives the team feedback on what’s happening during every race and practice. It was really wonderful to witness an amazing coach, mentor and grandfather figure that cares so much about younger generations. He has a real passion, wants to foster bright future for these kids and keep them away from the violence and addiction he witnessed when he was in law enforcement. His goal is to get the youth invested in this sport at a young age and remind them how it’s deeply rooted in the Lakota culture and history. I still call and text him, he and Kaden are even joining me in a festival in a couple of weeks.”

In San Servolo you won the ONA Shortfilm Festival – Best Photography Award, what was your reaction?

“We weren’t expecting the ONA award. I was so disappointed that I wasn’t able to be there, but I’m happy that Peter Goetz, my directing and producing partner, managed to get to San Servolo. Winning an award is such an amazing bonus…. The reason I make films to share stories I care about with an audience and because I love the process. For me, the film is a success if an audience connects with it. So, winning an award is a major bonus. We were thrilled to share this story in Venice, with an Italian audience so far from Pine Ridge and the Lakota people…. How amazing. And getting the award is simply next level!”

The other winners of the ONA awards are: Best Cinematography / Rythm of Water, Best Adventure / Belove- A Life At Sea, Best Sountrack / Neon Noir, Ocean Conservation Award / Coexistence, Life Achievement / Thør Heyerdahl – Kon Tiki Expedition, CAI Award / Belov A Life At Sea, Unesco Heritage & Urban Regeneration – Iuav University of Venice / I Am The Nature.

Visit onafilmfestival.com to get more information, find out more about the films and stay updated on the next edition.