HENRY BOUCHA, OJIBWA
NATIVE AMERICAN OLYMPIAN FILM PROJECT

A film project in partnership with TPT/Twins Cities Public Television

Welcome to the official page of Henry Boucha, Ojibwa

Native American Olympian Film Project. Check out the trailer, discover the storyline, learn about the inspiration behind the project and find out how you can help.

Henry's Vision

Henry Boucha is a Native American hockey legend, Olympic silver-medalist, and member of the Ojibwa tribe. Henry’s dream is to share his story of hardship and triumph in the form of a feature film, and to follow this film with a series on the stories of the lives and achievements of other inspirational Native American Olympians.

Each of the individual stories of these elite athletes contains valuable insights and lessons, which carry society-wide implications. Even when the spotlight of the world stage has faded, these athletes stand as shining examples to be admired and emulated. For example, few athletes in the history of humanity have shined as brightly as the great Jim Thorpe, multiple gold medal winner, and a member of the Sac and Fox Nation. His brand of athletic dominance is unmatched in modern times, so much so that his legacy remains the “gold standard” for aspiring athletes around the world.

Of course, masterful displays of athletic accomplishment surround us today. One such example is Henry Boucha. Henry is arguably the greatest hockey talent ever produced by the state of Minnesota, where the sport has attained a near-religious reverence. Wherever one searches for inspiration, the legacies of Jim Thorpe, Henry Boucha, and their fellow Native American Olympians are undeniably impressive and impact us on many levels.

HENRY'S STORY

Henry Boucha, an Ojibwa Native American from Warroad, Minnesota, is a Minnesota high school, professional and Olympic hockey icon. Henry’s story is one of struggle, tragedy and triumph. From humble beginnings, Henry was able to break free from the inequality that has plagued Native Americans for centuries. His gifts as a hockey player lead him to a silver medal in the 1972 Olympics. Following the Olympics, Henry enjoyed a professional hockey career for six seasons, joining the Minnesota North Stars in 1974…until an incident during a North Star game against the Boston Bruins. An opposing team member deliberately struck Henry in the eye with a hockey stick, resulting in an eye injury that forced him to hang up his skates at the age of 26. His eye sight was never the same, and the injury had a profound effect on his ability to play. This was the beginning of the final chapter of his hockey career, which ended not with great promise, but with legal battles – criminal and civil – and an out-of-court settlement, gag orders and motivations left unexplained. The incident forever changed the course of Henry’s life…in both predictable and surprising ways.

The movie will be based on the

autobiography of Henry Boucha titled:

Henry Boucha, Ojibwa,

Native American Olympian, available

on Amazon.com.

Click below to donate, or mail your

donation to:

Kah-Bay-Kah-Bay, Inc.

501 c3 Corporation

IRS # 41-1885642

3181 Manitou Dr.

White Bear Lake, MN 56763