Early Cowboy History
The first cowboys arrived on the Canadian prairies during this decade.
What are the 1870s?
This term refers to a person who herds and tends cattle or horses—originally used in a racist way toward Black ranch workers.
What is cowboy?
This Canadian cowboy inspired The Virginian and stayed after driving cattle north.
Who was Everett C. Johnson?
Canada’s first organized rodeo took place in 1891 in this Alberta town.
What is Fort Macleod?
A mark burned into livestock to identify its owner.
What is a brand?
These workers from Oregon and Washington drove cattle into British Columbia during the 1858 gold rush.
Who were the buckaroos?
Cowboys worked primarily on wide-open land known as this.
What is the open range?
This legendary Black cowboy became famous for strength, horsemanship, and ranching in Alberta.
Who was John Ware?
This famous event was first held in 1912 and is now the richest rodeo in the world.
What is the Calgary Stampede?
Large ruminant animals such as cows, oxen, and bison.
What is cattle?
This rancher settled near Cache Creek around 1860 and ran the first large ranch in British Columbia.
Who was John Park?
Chaps, tall boots, and wide-brimmed hats trace their origins to this Spanish tradition.
What is the vaquero tradition?
Some newcomers to the West were mockingly called “T. Eaton cowboys”—this term implied they were only cowboys in appearance.
What are dudes?
Rodeos began as a way for cowboys to practise these essential skills.
What are cattle-handling skills such as roping and riding?
A large farm where cattle or horses are raised.
What is a ranch?
By this year, 100,000 cattle grazed east of the Rocky Mountains on open pasture leased from the government.
What is 1886?
The distinct rope technique cowboys use to catch animals.
What is lassoing? (or What is roping?)
This group adopted some cowboy traditions and ran several successful ranches, though settlers rarely treated them as equals.
Who were First Nations and Métis peoples?
Indigenous and cowboy riders competed in separate races for this athletic event.
What is horse racing?
A derogatory term historically used for untrained or prestige-seeking newcomers dressed as cowboys.
What is a dude? (or T. Eaton cowboy)
The first people called “cowboys” in Canada arrived by driving herds north from these two U.S. territories.
The first people called “cowboys” in Canada arrived by driving herds north from these two U.S. territories.
When the open prairie closed in the early 20th century, this type of round-up largely disappeared.
What are large seasonal roundups?
Chinese immigrants often worked on ranches but were usually restricted to this job.
What is cooking?
Visitors can explore traditional cowboy life at this National Historic Site in Alberta.
What is Bar U Ranch National Historic Site?
This census identified 84,740 Canadians working on beef-based farms and ranches in 2016.
What is the 2016 Canadian Agricultural Census?