Johnny Lefthand, an 80-year-old fellow when he was a model, was just one year younger than Jay’s own father. He was a member of the Stoney Nation who lived most of his life at Eden Valley, Alberta. He reminisced with Jay about the time in his life when he hunted, trapped, and lived a slower pace closer to nature as did Jay as a young child in Montana.

Johnny had attended the Calgary Stampede as a baby in 1912 and became a well-known competitor in Wild Cow Milking, Saddle Bronc Riding, and even Chuckwagon Racing. In 1932 and 1944, he was a champion wild cow milker.1 He was still dancing Powwow well into his eighties.

Johnny was a leader in his community and had a major role in the creation of the Eden Valley Reserve in 1948. He had been to England to ride bucking horses in an exhibition for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and travelled with eight other Native cowboys to the New South Wales Rodeo in Sydney, Australia, to perform in a rodeo in 1939.

“I really liked this man. I went back for many years to visit with him in his tipi at the village. I enjoyed him, and I learned from him. He was a humble man, wise, and incredibly interesting to talk to.“

– Jay Contway