- Thanks for joining us on the premiere of Native Reports 18th season.

I'm Rita Karppinen.

On this Native Report, we get a unique perspective from modern day alligator wrestlers and over in North-Western Montana, we hear from the Chief Mountain Hot Shots on what it's like to fight wildfires.

We also learn what we can do to lead healthier lives and hear from our elders.

- [Announcer] Production for Native Report is made possible by grants from the Blandin Foundation, Anishinabe Fund and Alexandra Smith fund.

In support of Native American treaty rights, administered through the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.

The generous support from viewers like Jack and Sharon Kemp.

(gentle music) And DSGW Architects, personalizing architecture online@dsgw.com.

(soft music) (gentle upbeat music) - It's the start of the 18th season of Native Report.

In this episode, we're exploring how traditions are passed down through the generations from firefighting out West, to wrestling gators in the South.

We'll start with heading down to Florida to get a glimpse into the lives of modern day alligator wrestlers.

(soft music) (water splashing) (jaw banging) (speaking in a foreign language) (water splashing) (water whooshing) - Hello, my name is Jessie Cattone.

I am a alligator wrestler.

I used to work for the Miccosukee tribe.

I now am a wildlife rehabilitator manager, as well as a veterinary technician.

(water splashing) I got into alligator wrestling.

It's actually a very odd story.

When I was about 24, 23 years old, I moved to Orlando to work at a facility working with alligators and at that facility I always wanted to demonstrate and do hands-on more activities with alligators.

But they said that women were not capable and weren't strong enough to work with alligators.

Literally on the spot, up and left, quit.

I turned in my keys and I made it my ultimate goal to wrestle alligators.

If anything were to happen, let's say for the example it clamps down in my hands or anything, you're just gonna you know, jump immediately right behind me.

Hold onto the back legs, hold onto the front legs and make sure the alligator doesn't death row, or anything of that sort.

If I'm doing a head trick and you know clamps down on my head, that's where I expect you guys to be even quicker than the usual, because if the alligator starts death rolling, or wanting to death roll, I will die.

Most definitely.

(water gently splashing) (jaw banging) So, in his mouth he has about 80 teeth.

40 on top, 40 on the bottom.

You see, you touch those sensors and it will trigger them to open their mouth, so they can easily shut as well.

(jaw banging) I haven't done this trick in two years.

We call this a sudden death, because if he bites down it's immediately a sudden death situation.

(jaw banging) And there you go.

(water splashing) - Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Just seeing my daughter putting her head on the alligator's mouth.

But she did good.

I was super nervous that my kid could get killed right there.

So, Jessie is like that type of girl, that type of woman.

Tough skin.

(jaw thudding) (people clapping) - I'm Kenny Cypress, I'm the treasurer for the Miccosukee Tribe.

This place means to me, just brings back a lot of memories.

You know, wrestling the alligators and working here.

- [Narrator] His opponent is a 10 foot full alligator, that hasn't been fed for three weeks.

- I wrestled alligators for about 10 years maybe.

Now the most favorite memories was when I got bit on the head by an alligator.

- [Narrator] It's time for the most daring and dangerous part of the act.

- [Announcer] And the jaw's open and the head's in.

(spectators screaming) - [Narrator] Spectators can only watch in horror as the drama unfolds.

- I was doing a show that day and I got careless and didn't wipe the sweat from my forehead.

And when the sweat dropped on his tongue the alligator bit and got my head.

(Kenny chuckling) - [Narrator] It's only when the alligator tries to get a better grip that Kenny is able to pull free.

- I had a fractured jaw.

One thing too is that, the alligator's mouth are dirty.

Yeah so, I had a lot of punctures in my head, and so they had to go in and clean everything out real good, so that you don't get infection.

I came back the next day and still wrestled.

(Kenny chuckling) - [Interviewer] The next day.

- The show had to go on.

(Kenny laughing) (water splashing) - All right, jumping directly onto the alligator's back, covering the eyes.

This helps to calm the alligator down very quickly.

My name is Pharaoh Gayles.

I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and I am a wildlife educator here in Florida.

I've been wrestling for about 10 years on and off, since I've lived here in Florida, but I actually jumped on my first crocodilian when I was nine years old.

All right, so today we're here to visit an old friend his name is Performer.

Right now he is probably about 35, maybe 40 years old probably eight to nine feet long and about three to 400 pounds.

So, let's go check 'em out.

You never know what's gonna happen, when you do a gator demonstration, or any wildlife demonstration.

It's a little bit of a gamble.

So yeah.

Large jaw muscles, the alligator's eyes they go in and out of deep sockets in the skull, that's used to help protect the alligator.

If you look along the side, right behind the eye these little flaps right here, those are actually the alligator's ears.

They can hear just as well as you and I can.

All right.

(splashing water) - [Announcer] He's gotta get it cracked up, Oh my goodness, he's going blind folded, head straight guys.

Blindfolded head trick.

(rock music) He's going blind, I repeat, blindfolded head trick.

♪ I know that you can ♪ Hey.

- These animals are genuinely scared and timid and just wanna be left alone, and they just wanna get out of your way and they're not interested in attacking you.

They'll let you know, hey you're making me nervous, you're making me nervous.

And then at the last resort, they'll move outta your way.

My ultimate goal with everything I do with everything that I've ever done with wildlife, is to make this world a better place.

And by doing that, all right, any longer it will be really hard.

As I do demonstrations I'm changing people's views, perspectives, opinions and with that, I can change the world in my own way.

- Jessie and Pharaoh's spark of enthusiasm for spreading awareness and knowledge, couldn't be done in a more unique way.

(gentle music) - Why are vaccines so important?

There are many diseases that can infect us and many of them have been deadly throughout history.

Vaccines have been created to prevent disease and prevention is always better and easier than treating.

Many diseases don't have good treatments.

Once you receive a vaccine your body will make antibodies against that disease.

These antibodies will circulate in your immune system and will be ready to fight at the first sign of disease.

The protection some vaccines give can fade over time and you may need boosters to have maximum protection.

Smallpox has killed millions of people worldwide and through vaccination has been eradicated.

Polio used to be a devastating disease for children and is now almost unheard of in developed countries.

Vaccines are safe and effective and have a proven track record.

Vaccines not only protect the person getting the vaccine, they protect the people around them.

Many diseases are spread by touching, or in the air.

Vaccines greatly reduce the risk of diseases spreading.

Some vaccine preventable illnesses can have serious complications, or lead to later illnesses.

Influenza can lead to pneumonia, or flu related heart attacks and strokes.

Hepatitis B can increase your chances of cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Human papillomavirus is a leading cause of cervical cancer and vaccines can help keep from passing these illnesses on.

Vaccine safety is a high priority and vaccines are constantly monitored for any negative side effects.

The most common side effects are fever, fatigue, body aches, or redness, swelling and tenderness where the vaccine was given.

Some facilities won't let your child attend unless they are up to date on their vaccinations.

Students, military personnel and residents of rehabilitation, or care centers must be vaccinated against diseases that circulate in those close quarters.

Healthcare workers and others at risk of catching and spreading preventable diseases need to be vaccinated against them.

Vaccinations are required to travel to many places in the world.

Some people don't have strong immune systems, due to chemotherapy, or medications for autoimmune diseases and cannot be given certain vaccines.

Keeping you and your family up to date, will help protect them.

Protecting yourself and your family, will help protect others.

It's what we should all do to make our community stronger and safer.

Don't get your news from social media.

There's a lot of misinformation out there and dividing us benefits someone, but not us.

When I was in my family practice residency all those years ago, I was told something I'll always remember.

The biggest things medicine and public health have done historically and worldwide, are clean water and vaccinations.

Talk to your healthcare provider and remember to call an elder.

They've been waiting for your call.

I'm Dr. Arne Vainio and this is Health Matters.

(gentle music) - There's more to wild land firefighting than putting out fires.

We visit with members of the Blackfeet Nation chief Mountain Hotshots in Montana, to learn more about the thousands of years Blackfeet have been using fire in their way of life.

(gentle music) - People always ask and question us when we do things.

Why are you doing this?

And as one of my little smirks is, "Oh, we've only been doing this for a few thousand years".

Jovan Fisher, I'm the superintendent for Chief Mountain Hot Shots.

I've been with the crew for 21 years.

I'm also a member of the Browning Fire Department and I've been with them for the last 23 years.

I'm both structure and wild land and I'm a 12 month a year firefighter.

Our Blackfeet tribe is four different bands, and the Blackfeet Nation here in Pikuni, is the only one that's here in the United States.

The other three bands are up in Canada.

(upbeat music) We got the rolling grasslands from Central to East and then we got the beautiful Rocky Mountains in our backyards, all the way from the West up to the Canadian border.

(upbeat music) So we've been using fire as a tool for thousands and thousands of years here.

Not only to keep warm, but to also provide us with food.

We have some of the buffalo jumps to the south of here along the Two Medicine River.

The women and children and other people would line up on each side with buffalo robes and screaming and shouting and flapping and the horseback riders in the back.

The warriors would come and chase the buffalo and chase 'em over the buffalo jumps.

Well, that's how we'd get our food.

And then by chasing them, in order to get bigger groups, you'd light a wildman fire behind them and it would chase 'em up and over the top.

Well then the grass would grow back green and it would bring them back naturally anyway.

Fire's in the blood.

It's definitely in the DNA.

Part of the ways of life.

You gotta have fire.

- These are chief Mountain Hot Shots in the Blackfeet Wildland Fire Department.

They keep our reservations safe from giant forest fires and today they're clearing fuels, to prevented forest fire on my property.

And also, more importantly as they're clearing these fields so our savage berry trees can grow and they'll get more harvest out of berries for ceremony.

You go through the forest, you'll find a lot of places where they've thinned fields out and made slash piles like this here.

And just to protect the reservation and our natural resources from burning up.

It's a great program for our reservation.

(gentle upbeat music) - Being a Hot Shot isn't just about being a Hot Shot.

We do all risk.

So anytime there's floods, earthquakes, hurricanes.

I had done Hurricane Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

We did Katrina with the Shot crew assisting with ice and water and other things.

We've done space shuttle recovery, of the space shuttle that fell apart years ago.

So, it's not just about wild land firefighting anymore.

- My grandpa on my dad's side and my dad they did firefighting way back in the day.

I think my grandpa told me they got like $1.20 an hour back then.

Considered back then, that was good money.

I just totally love this job.

I love my crew.

I worry about 'em, I worry about 'em when we're at home even, that's how tight we are.

So, yep, they are my boys.

Yep, people have told me that "What?

"Which one's your boy?"

All of 'em, they're all my boys.

Every single one of them.

- When I started fighting fire for the Hot Shots, it was like in 92, in 93, 94, I was just a regular firefighter and then I got moved to a squad boss, a supervisor in 95, all the way up till 2000 in my accident year 2000.

In June 23rd of 2000 I got in a car accident, that put me in this wheelchair.

And this is what I've been doing, mostly administrative teaching to the young guys.

- Chief Mountain is a sacred mountain.

From the nearest road access, it's about a six and a half mile round trip.

I make sure that we go up as a crew and pray like our ancestors did before us, for a safe season and you know, for everything to go good.

Our people have been doing that for thousands of years.

That is a very sacred mountain.

There's actually a trail on the backside, that you can hike up to the top.

Very challenging, very tough.

Years ago, our ancestors would fast up there for four days without food, or water and they'd pray and we'd leave offerings.

I have been up there once in my lifetime.

It's a pretty challenging hike.

There's things up there that scare a person.

You're afraid to touch things, or move a certain thing, because those offerings that are left up there are prayed hard upon.

And so fasting four days without the food, or water is the closest you come to the creator, so he can hear your prayers.

And that's why we've chose to fast, is to be closer to the creator, so that he hears us.

- The Chief Mountain Hotshots were formed in 1988 and received their type one Hot Shot status in 1990.

(gentle music) - Have hope, even though your life has struggles, there's always hope.

Even though you're gonna experience change, there's always hope.

Hang onto the hope, hang onto the hope.

And what's going to get us through that, is Zagy awin.

Zagy awin is love.

Zagy awin.

Be compassionate.

Love each other.

Be caring.

Not just about each other, but care about the land.

Zagy awin is love.

If you love the land, you're gonna protect it.

If you love your family, you're gonna protect your family.

I love this land.

I love that lake.

I love the trees, you love.

So, for youth, for young people is to ask an elder, go to somebody, maybe doesn't have to be distant but somebody and have 'em show you, that zagi awin for the land and love for the land.

Have 'em show you how to catch a fish.

How to grow wild rice.

How to pick medicines.

How to go out and when it's 90 degrees out and pick blueberries.

Have 'em show you that love.

That love that is to the land.

And pretty soon you're gonna see what I'm talking about.

That love, zagy awin for the land.

And you're gonna stand up you will stand up when that land is in jeopardy of being harmed.

You're gonna stand up for that love you have with the land.

(gentle music) - We call it smudging when we burn sage and we use it every day.

A lot of us will start out our day with it.

If you're having like a particularly bad day, you might wanna smudge down to get rid of the bad vibes and reset yourself.

(gentle music) (speaking in a foreign language) My name is Shawn Carr and we're gathering sage today that we'll need over the winter and to last us till the next season.

We're getting it now because it's in this particular area.

It's relatively young and not too much for the starting to seed yet.

And we don't want to take the seeds with us 'cause we want more sage and we don't wanna take the roots either.

And this area, it still has a crop that's not fully mature.

Well, this is we'll say harvest time.

This is when it's large enough to pick and when we gather it, we want to put down our sema and that's tobacco.

And we wanna give thanks to the plant for being there for us and thanks to the creator for the plant also.

Well, we either, the ones we kind of want to avoid the ones with the seeds, but if we have to pick those we wanna strip the seeds off, or pop the top off the plant and we wanna leave the root remaining, so that, 'cause it's a returning plant.

So we wanna, we don't wanna make it so it doesn't come back, or over harvest it.

It likes sunnier places.

Like we're kind of an open area here and where we stopped back down the road there, that was open too and it seems to like sandier spots.

I've never found it like in the deeper woods.

So, I'm always kind of looking, especially this time of year.

It's got a distinctive color.

It really stands out if you know what you're looking for.

So, those are the things I look for.

This is the spot I've been to before, so I knew it was here.

I've done it by myself sometimes, it's been a thing of opportunity when I've seen some.

Today, I'm with my friend.

We haven't gathered before together but it's always fun to do these sort of things with friends.

I've done it in larger groups, I've done it for work.

I find it enjoyable.

What I like to do is, (gentle music) I'll tie a knot at one end.

Make that big enough.

(gentle music) And that around the base.

And we like to use red to show the spirits that we're doing things in a good way.

(ethereal music) So, then what I'll do when I get home, is I'm gonna, I've got the base tied and then, I'll leave this loose for a while, and we'll hang it like that.

And then when it gets dryer, then I'll wrap it around to keep it in a smaller bundle.

(gentle music) - If you missed a show, or wanna catch up online find us at nativereport.org and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for behind the scene updates.

And drop a comment on social media if you enjoyed the show.

Thanks for spending time with your friends and neighbors from across Indian Country.

I'm Rita Karrpanen.

We'll see you next time on Native Report.

- [Announcer] Production for Native Report is made possible by grants from the Blandin Foundation, Anishinabe Fund, and Alexandra Smith Fund, in support of Native American Treaty Rights.

Administered through the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.

The generous support from viewers like Jack and Sharon Kemp.

And DSGW Architects personalizing Architecture online@dsgw.com.

(gentle music) (sweeping music)