Mato Luta
(Red Bear /Jim Lethbridge)
1905-1981
Jim Lethbridge was born in Moose Jaw in 1905. He lived in the Lakota camp along the river with his mother, Wanbli Sunpagewin. As a boy he attended Empress School.
In 1915 he moved to the reserve at Wood Mountain and began breaking horses. Before long he was riding broncs at rodeos.
"Rodeo riding attracted me and at age 18 I rode my first horse in Lafleche. In one way or another I took part in rodeo for twenty years. I took part in all events in the beginning byt later on I specialized in bronc riding. One of my greatest thrills was when I became the first man to ride the famous bucking horse, Too High.
In 1930 I competed against world champion Pete Knight in Moose Jaw where I won day money. Some of the cowboys wanted me to go with them but I did not want to leave Wood Mountain as I was in love.
When I became too old to ride broncs I became a rodeo judge and I started making saddles. I worked for Eamor's saddle shop in High River, Alberta for one year to learn the trade. Most of my life has been spent working around horses, saddles and rodeo and I have enjoyed every bit of it.
James Lethbridge and his wife Edith Ogle had one daughter, Nancy. |
