Name: Wade C. Colliflower

Age: I’m in my prime (28)

Marital Status: June 23, 2001, I married Clintanna Bell and it’s been awesome! :)

Family/Children: wife Clintanna, daughter Enyis 7, son Kellen 5, Dad John, brothers Nuppy, Doody, and Jesse.

Hometown: Rocky Boy, Montana

Native American Heritage: Chippewa-Cree and Gros-Ventre (White clay)

Horses: Peewee, heeling horse and daughters barrel horse, she won just about everything on him; Yella, he’s a pick up horse, hazing horse, heading horse, heeling horse, and a kid horse. We have a lot of horses around this place.

Pets that you own: (cats, dogs, fish, etc) I have two dogs, Snickers the cow dog that doesn’t work cows, and Rusty Rose our wiener dog, she’s awesome and thinks she’s a bulldog that will kill at a drop of a hat.

Events Worked: Doggin and some jackpot roping. I’ve been known to get on a wild cow every now and then.

Association member of: all kinds, I don’t discriminate.

Rodeo Accomplishments: I tend to remember the wrecks because that’s what keeps you grounded.

When did you start an interest in rodeo? When I was two years old and I was riding this big bad bull named Spiderman in my Mom’s living room. After I was 90 on him, I got on my dogging horse Nuppy and bulldogged a rank steer named Doody.

What other sports other than rodeo do you enjoy? I played football and basketball in high school; I enjoyed playing football because you could hit people for fun and basketball to get out of feeding cows.

What is the funniest thing that you have seen or experienced at a rodeo? During Rocky Boy rodeo a few years back, Joe Wilson had this calf horse and as he rides into the box he says something along the lines of, “She might really buck my *bleep* off.” Man, did she fire! She had him on the ground in two jumps and he’s one of the best bronc riders I’ve seen.

What advice would you give to Indian youth about rodeo or anything in general? You need to be self sufficient, don’t rely on others to take care of you and pay your way down the road. Make your own luck.

What advice would you give to Indian youth who wanted to participate in rodeo but didn’t have the resources or support to get involved? Resources are hard to come by, create your own and get an education so that may support yourself. Not many people can make a living rodeoing and go balls out.

Are their any songs that inspire or pump you up before you ride or rope? Eminem, 70’s rock is always good right before rodeos, and on the road country.

What would you like to see more of at Indian Rodeos? I would like to see Indian rodeos keep getting bigger and better. One thing about Indians, we haven’t been able to progress because we can’t stand to work together and I see a lot of animosity that drags Indian rodeos down; it doesn’t need to be like this, we need to drop the pettiness and work together.

What are/is your favorite western movie(s)? Cowboys; Clay O was awesome, Blazing Saddles, and Lonesome Dove.

What is your favorite music? Right now, whatever I have on my IPOD. I have Bobby Bare, Britney Spears, Bloodhound Gang, George Strait, Johnny Cash, and a whole mix of everything.

What was your most memorable ride or run? I was about 13 and it was a nice cool summer evening in Rocky Boy, I had a little pony named Blisters, who we did everything on but jump off of. At the time we had one pup steer that was really a runt. My dad tells me to back into the box and see if he’ll run by. So, I back in and Blisters was always a jughead in the box but he was cool that day and I dropped my chin and took a start at it like I knew what I was doing. I jumped this lil steer and it was all clean he really took it too when I went to the nose; I think it was a 5 second run but it was the very first steer I jumped and I’ll always remember it.

Who is your all time hero? My mom, she was amazing. She always went out of her way to help everyone; she always expected the best from her sons and made sure we were taken care of. She’s the reason we have a great playground in Rocky Boy where we can rodeo all summer long. She made sure that no matter what, we could always hit the road and play cowboy all the time. My dad was a great coach when we were growing up, he was always there to show us and help us in whatever we did. His talks always keep a guy cool and calm. He always made sure we were well mounted and he would haze steers for us until 3 in the morning if we wanted. He might have been a world champion Indian cowboy but he is also a world champion dad.

What Indian Cowboy or Cowgirl has influenced you to rodeo? My Mom and my Dad but also guys like Jerry Small and Spike Gardipee who are great champions. 

Would you like to thank sponsors and or anyone for your success in rodeo? My Mom the late Sybil Sangrey Colliflower and my Dad John Colliflower Sr., who always made sure we were mounted. Chippewa Cree Tribe, if it wasn’t for the tribe BPIRA wouldn’t be possible. Chance Houle he has went above and beyond for Indian rodeo. Ricky Morsette for paying my daughter Enyis’ fees the first time she entered Rocky Boy’s kids rodeo. Jake Parker, our chairman, for helping the Chippewa Cree cowboys who made the IIFR. Corey, Jen, Tiff, and everyone who has helped put the rodeos on all year. My wife CLINTANNA for putting up with my “Fits”, as she calls them, and allowing me to play cowboy all the time, I love you and thank you!