Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The fact that a 11-year-old girl won the grand prize of “Eagle Festival” in 2014 was a special milestone not only for Mongolia but for the world, as she broke down the barrier in eagle hunting culture. Aisholpan is now in the USA with her family attending a premiere of the documentary about her journey of becoming an eagle huntress.

The documentary is named “The Eagle Huntress”, which was released this January 24 at Sundance Film Festival. Star Wars: Force Awakens’ star Daisy Ridley has worked as the executive director. “For 2,000 years, the Kazakh people of the Altai region in western Mongolia have practiced a tradition of hunting with golden eagles, whose wingspan can reach up to 7.5 feet wide. Though this practice has traditionally been the domain of men, Aisholpan decides that she wants to become an apprentice hunter after spending her childhood helping her father, a renowned eagle hunter, care for his birds. Under the tutelage and support of her father and her grandfather—and very few others—Aisholpan learns all aspects of falconry, from taming her very own eagle to training for an annual competition, where she will compete against 70 eagle hunters on her quest to gain acceptance.
Featuring breathtaking cinematography and intimate footage, this film not only explores the life of a young girl striving to pursue her passion and break down gender barriers in a very traditional culture but also provides an engaging glimpse into the lives of this remote community, as they balance their traditional lifestyle with the modern world.”, reads the film description.

The film is being screened at Prospector Square Theatre, Salt Lake City Library Theatre and Redstone Cinema, the USA.

Aisholpan and her family also visited a Native American community.

Members of the Comanche Nation brought eagles from Oklahoma to Park City to help Aisholpan demonstrate her abilities. Members of the Comanche Nation breed the eagles in captivity.

"They are a similar horse culture to the Comanche nation," said Bill Bover of the Comanche Nation Eagle Program. "The eagle is something that we've been connecting with for a long time. But to have them here, in a historic Comanche territory and to interact with them, is special for us."

Aisholpan said her eagle back home in Mongolia, named White Wings, is a bit bigger than one of the eagles brought in from Oklahoma. As Aisholpan balances to release her bird, she is also balancing the traditions of her people with life in a modern world.

Aisholpan believes the film has an important message.

"Girls and boys are the same strong," said Aisholpan. "So, if the boys can do something, girls can do this as well."