‘Spirituality behind the horse’: Chacachas First Nation hosts roping competition

"This is about raising money for our youth foundation," said Nicole Bear, founder of Bang a Drum. July 16, 2026 (Fruzsina De Cloedt)

Ropers from across Canada gathered on Chacachas First Nation Thursday for a competition aimed at supporting youth and celebrating a culture deeply tied to horses.

The event, which began at 9 a.m. just off Highway 9 at Oly’s Trading Post, is hosted by Bang a Drum – a non-profit youth foundation started by Nicole and Charlie Bear and their family.

Now in its third year, the one-day competition has grown into a large-scale team roping event that attracts both professional and amateur competitors.

“This is about raising money for our youth foundation,” Nicole explained.

The competition features three events: a professional team roping competition, a pro-am format that pairs amateur ropers with professional partners, and a breakaway roping competition for women that serves as a Canada’s Finest Breakaway (CFB) qualifier.

“It’s a chance for the amateurs to grow and compete with the pros, the ones that you see on Cowboy Channel,” Nicole said.

“A good start for the youth”

Professional competitors like Jeremy Buhler, Kash Barnett, Trey Galloway and Grady Quam were among those participating.

The event’s fundraising and competitive elements are closely connected.

Nicole said organizers secured nearly $30,000 in sponsorships, while entry fees and buyback opportunities for competitors provide additional revenue for the foundation.

“We hope to raise quite a bit of money,” she said. “If we can get up to $10,000 or $15,000, we’d be so happy. That’d be a really good start for the youth.”

Funds raised help young people access opportunities involving horses, rodeo and traditional teachings.

The foundation can assist with the purchase of horses and equipment, help cover costs for riding and roping schools or provide support for youth attending ceremonies and cultural gatherings.

Reconnecting with traditions

The idea for Bang a Drum emerged around a kitchen table three years ago, according to Charlie Bear, chief of Chacachas First Nation and co-founder of the foundation.

“We started a foundation that intends to promote and help our youth get involved in the Western and horse culture,” he said.

For Charlie, the initiative is about reconnecting young people with traditions that were once central to life in many Indigenous communities.

“Back in the day, basically everybody in the nation had a horse and learned to use that horse,” he said. “This culture got lost and we wanted to try to bring it back.”

He said the foundation’s focus extends beyond rodeo competition.

“You don’t have to be a rodeo cowboy or rancher,” he said. “Just to be around them – that was kind of the vision to help our youth.”

The Bears say horses continue to carry a special significance within the community, serving not only practical purposes but also offering teachings, values and healing.

“There’s a spirituality behind the horse,” Nicole said.

“The values that the horse encompasses – the horse teaches us things that maybe we can’t communicate, but that horse will teach us.”

Charlie Bear echoed those sentiments, saying horses have always been part of his family’s life.

“We go to the horse for help, the spirit of the horse,” he said. “It was always our intent to promote that and introduce our youth back to that.”

In addition to the annual roping event, Bang a Drum hosts youth camps throughout the year focused on horsemanship and rodeo skills.

The foundation recently hosted a small camp and has additional programs planned, with organizers hoping to expand as more support becomes available.

Hopes of hosting Bon Jovi

The foundation’s name comes from the song Bang a Drum, originally written by Jon Bon Jovi and later recorded as a duet with rodeo and country music legend Chris LeDoux.

Nicole hopes that news of their foundation reaches Bon Jovi himself, with the goal of hosting the artist and allowing him to perform the song that started it all.

For Charlie, the song’s message of prayer and spirituality reflects the foundation’s purpose.

“It’s not just our Native youth,” Charlie Bear said. “It’s anybody that maybe needs a little bit of help.”

As competitors roped under a gloomy prairie sky, the fundraising goal extended beyond prize money and standings.

Organizers hope the event will help ensure more young people have the opportunity to experience the lessons, skills and connections that come from working with horses.

“We want our youth to have that opportunity to look at that horse as a partner for them,” Nicole said.