Arvus in Excelsus

The year is 1973. Arvus Little Pup a First Nations Cowboy and tribal member, whose past has been shattered with horrible experiences returns home to Kainai his home and Reservation after a seven year hiatus. His people think he has returned back home to his wicked-wicked ways of drinking and carousing with women. Little do they know, especially his close friend and confidant-Shorty Two Leggings that he has returned home a changed person, with Bible in hand. Shorty desperately tries to convince Arvus to continue on where he left off seven years ago; rodeoing, drinking, and womanizing. Arvus who as a child bore the brunt and ugliness of residential school blames many of his woes including his drinking, divorce, and inability to face certain realities on the residential schools haunting past. His career in rodeo as a saddle bronc rider in the First Nations circuit continues on and is one way he tries to deal with the past and move on with his life. No matter how hard he tries to go straight the past resurfaces to greet him; sometimes in a good way but mostly in a bad way. He accepts the blame for the break-up of his marriage and his family. He tries desperately to make up for lost time.