The history of ranching illustrates how the prairie grasslands and Alberta beef became staples and cultural icons in the province’s economy and mythology. These are the stories of early Alberta ranchers and cowboys living their lives on the range, and how the horse became a symbol of Alberta’s spirit. The narratives of these Mavericks will facilitate student understanding of how the natural resources of a region determine how communities are established and how Albertans have dealt with competing demands for land use.
The Mavericks
When Tom Three Persons rode Cyclone to a standstill in the 1912 Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, the crowd held its breath.
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“For the present, I defend my claim as my neighbours do, behind my Winchester.”
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When Jane Howse married Sam Livingston at Victoria Settlement on the North Saskatchewan River, she connected him to an important Métis family.
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“I’d like a little worse horse and a little better saddle.”
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John Ware and Mildred Lewis were an unlikely couple.
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“Always keep yourself in a position to look any man straight in the eye and tell him to go to hell.”
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“If there is anything a brewer has to do, it’s hold his liquor.”
