Bear Heels-McCowan was one of many local people to serve as extras in Costner’s epic film “Dances With Wolves,” filmed partly around Pierre 20 years ago. Cast as a member of the Lakota village, Bear Heels-McCowan enjoyed her brief on-screen role as a villager leading a dog by a string. But the 19th century role required her to remove her 20th century glasses — making navigating the set difficult.
“I was walking around trying to find my way back to the trailer. I’m totally blind without my glasses,” she said. “And he’s Mr. Kevin Costner standing here. I went over to him and I patted him and said ‘Sir? Can you tell me which way the main trailer is?’ He took my by the hand and led me around.
  
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“I still didn’t know he was Kevin Costner until we got around and and said, ‘Oh my god, it’s Kevin Costner.’ I look around and here’s Kevin Costner leading me to my trailer.”
Bear Heels-McCowan’s story was just one of many shared by former cast and crew members of “Dances With Wolves” Tuesday night at a gathering at the Ramkota. As movie excerpts and behind-the-scenes footage played on a movie screen, people took turns sharing their memories of the time Hollywood came to Pierre.
Jay Curry didn’t get on camera like Bear Heels McCowan, but his handiwork did. Curry and his father Monte Curry worked on set construction, helping build memorable settings such as Fort Sedgwick.
“I think I was the first one to start on the film,” Curry said. “We built all the sets. When the construction was done I worked for the art department for about a month. After that I worked for the scenics. I think we were also one of the last ones to leave.”
Barry LeBeau also worked behind the camera as a grip — part of the camera crew responsible for moving equipment. His most vivid memories on the set come from filming the buffalo hunt scenes on the Triple U Buffalo Ranch. To herd buffalo past cameras, LeBeau said, the crew used a helicopter and multiple four-wheel drive trucks on both sides of the herd.
“The nervousness, the energy and the excitement of the outriders was palpable,” LeBeau said. “The helicopter comes up, and the horses start getting jittery. Then you feel the ground start rumbling — and pretty soon here they come.”
LeBeau observed the fearless nature of camera crews and actors in filming the buffalo scenes.
“We could hear someone saying, ‘No. 1, go.’ This truck peels out, and the truck goes right into the herd. You see those shots — those aren’t long shots with the great big lens on them. The camera was right there,” LeBeau said. “It was just incredible. It was awesome. And those Indian boys, they rode right into the buffalo. If anyone had fallen off they were dead.”
Despite two decades passing since the filming of “Dancing With Wolves,” people telling their stories Tuesday night said they were just as enthusiastic as the day filming wrapped.
“People often ask me if I’ll ever get over ‘Dances With Wolves,’” said Bill Stevens, who served as transportation coordinator and a driver for the production. “The answer is no.”
Bear Heels-McCowan was more direct.
“That was the highlight of my life,” she said.
SHARE YOUR STORIES
The Capital Journal wants to share your memories from the filming of “Dances With Wolves.”
Were you an extra? A crew member? Just a Pierre resident who saw Kevin Costner around town? Send your memories (250 words or less) and photos to news@capjournal.com or drop them off at 333 W. Dakota Ave., Pierre.
Submissions must be received by Oct. 5.
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