The Eagle Huntress

Long before borders were drawn...

before the reign of Genghis Khan...

nomadic tribes have roamed the remote Altai Mountains of Asia.

For over a thousand years, these tough nomads...

have used golden eagles to hunt for the food and fur they need...

to survive the incredibly harsh winters.

And for countless generations, this precious skill...

has typically been handed down from father to son.

But this relationship between man and bird is finite.

Custom dictates that after seven years of loyal service...

an eagle must be returned to the wild...

to continue the circle of life.

God is great.

You are an innocent lamb, but this eagle deserves an offering.

My dear eagle.

The time has come for you...

to fly up to the sky and be free.

We have been together for a long time.

And you have only brought good things to me.

It is not easy for me to let you go.

But I will release you, because everything has its end.

It's only right to let you go.

Fly to the sky.

The lamb is just for you.

This will be the last meal from me.

Shh.

My name is Aisholpan.

This May I turned 13-

How were your classes?

Good. Straight A's.

I was born in the Altai Mountains.

A child of the nomads.

I help my dad a lot.

We do everything together.

- There it is. - Where?

There it is.

Got him!

I love my dad.

He's like a teacher to me.

My dad and my grandpa are eagle hunters.

In our family...

we have been eagle hunters...

for generations.

It is not a choice.

It's a calling that has to be in your blood.

When it snows...

we go to the mountains with the eagles and hunt foxes.

A hunter and a catcher work together as a team.

We use the skin for fur hats...

and warm clothes.

We compete at festivals.

I have become a champion two times.

Got into the top five many times.

I was hooked.

The horses...

the clothing, the equipment.

Looking at my dad and grandpa...

I want to do the same.

Let me hold it.

Ever since she was young... -...

Aisholpan has been fascinated by the eagles.

Hold this.

Please hold it gently.

She would watch her dad feeding them...

utterly transfixed.

She definitely takes after him, not me.

Sadly, that doesn't leave much time for me and her.

But I don't resent that.

I just want my daughter to love her life.

Great.

You're a natural.

It's being forceful, pressing.

She holds the eagle with strength.

She's not afraid of it at all.

Maybe it's in her blood as well.

Because all the men in my family have been eagle hunters...

my dream is to become the first eagle huntress in Mongolia.

Aisholpan's family supports her dream...

of becoming an eagle huntress.

But there are more conservative voices in the eagle hunting community...

who have different opinions.

No.

- No. - Girls do not eagle-hunt.

Elder people disapprove of it.

Men go eagle hunting.

This is the legacy of our forefathers.

Women are weaker and more fragile.

While men go eagle hunting...

women are at home preparing tea and water.

They milk cows, process milk, make kurt.

It's hard for girls to go to the mountains...

and chase animals on horses.

They get cold.

Aisholpan says she wants to be an eagle hunter...

to continue our tradition.

People say she should not be doing this.

So I worry for her.

But I think girls and boys are equal.

Girls can do anything boys can if they try.

My father taught me...

And I don't want to let her down.

I began teaching Aisholpan...

showing her how to cover the eagle's head.

Then she learned...

to pull the rabbit along.

Yeah.

After trying this...

we tried calling the eagle to eat.

Where is your voice?

Raise your arm!

That's good!

She learned to fly the eagle from the mountain.

Launch it this way.

Pay attention. Again.

Release. Again.

Okay, good. Congratulations.

Even some men can't do that.

Are you hungry? Do your feet hurt?

Are you tired?

Are you hot?

Are you hungry?

I'll feed you when we get home.

We go to school by the Syr river...

"because there is no school in our area."

Let's play again!

I live in the dormitory.

I've been living here since the 2nd grade.

It's been so long since we've known each other.

We've lived together for 5 years in the dorm.

I've lived here for 7 years.

We are all neighbors.

We study and work.

We are at school for only 5 days.

On Fridays we go home.

My brother and sister live with me in the dormitory.

I take care of them.

Good morning, teacher!

- How are you? - I'm fine!

I feel good.

I have good grades at school...

"because I want to be a doctor someday."

But right now, all I can think about is becoming an eagle huntress.

Is dinner ready?

Place the spoons. Bring the onions.

May God bless you.

How are your classes going?

I wrestled everyone in my class...

including all the boys...

and won.

One boy was sitting and looking at me as if he was frozen.

Quick, feed this tough child.

Until now...

Aisholpan has been using her father's bird to learn the basics.

But really, she dreams of earning an eagle of her own.

Since she is serious...

I figure, let her bring up her own eagle and train it.

For a few days every year, a baby eaglet...

is strong enough to survive outside the nest without its mother.

But not quite old enough to fly away.

Today, there's the rare opportunity...

to seize a 3-month-old eaglet from a nearby mountain.

It is said that legendary eagle hunters...

have captured their eaglets in these mountains.

May we be so lucky!

There it is!

Oh my God, two eaglets in one nest.

Some good-looking eaglets right there.

Do you see, my child?

There, next to that yellow stone...

there are two eaglets.

They used to say the eagles were strong enough to bring you little mountain goats.

Do you see them?

We're going to have to climb up that side...

and then descend from the top.

This is going to be tough. We'll need to use the rope.

Do not be afraid, okay?

It's a strong knot!

Should I climb down here? Toward that outcrop over there?

Just be careful, use your arms to steady yourself.

Yep, that's the way.

Hold on tightly.

In the name of God.

Never let go of the rope.

Don't worry. Okay, go.

- Give me some more rope, Dad. - Back, back. Steady.

Grab onto the stone tightly.

Don't be scared. Keep on moving down.

It's getting tough there.

Let the rope out, Dad.

Give me some slack!

Just hold on tight.

Hold tight I said.

Yeah, yeah.

Go slowly. No more slip-ups!

More rope!

That's enough.

Are you holding on tight?

Yes.

Look! There they are!

I'm getting close!