Riders, Rustlers, and Rebels: The Cowboy Legacy of Saskatchewan
The cowboy is an iconic figure in Western Canada, embodying the spirit of resilience, skill, and adventure. While often associated with the American West, cowboys played a significant role in Saskatchewan’s history, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when cattle ranching was a major industry on the Prairies.
Before the railway and settlement boom, vast open ranges made Saskatchewan ideal for cattle drives. Ranchers moved livestock across great distances, requiring skilled riders to manage herds. Many early cowboys in the region were Métis, Indigenous, and Black men, who were experts in horsemanship, roping, and cattle handling. One notable figure was John Ware, a Black cowboy and rancher who made a lasting impact on Canada’s ranching industry. Born into slavery in the U.S., Ware moved north and became one of the most respected horsemen and cattlemen of his time.
Interestingly, the term "cowboy" has complex origins. Originally, it was used as a derogatory term for Black ranch hands in the southern United States. Over time, as the image of the cowboy became romanticized in popular culture, white ranchers and workers began adopting the term, turning it into a symbol of rugged independence. This shift in language reflects the broader history of race and labor in North America’s ranching industry.
Saskatchewan’s ranching culture thrived in areas like the Cypress Hills and along the Qu’Appelle Valley. One of the most famous ranches of the time was the Walrond Ranch, which operated extensive cattle drives in the late 19th century in Alberta. By the early 1900s, the arrival of homesteaders and barbed wire fencing led to the decline of open-range cattle drives, but rodeos and ranching traditions continued to shape the province’s identity. Regina, home to the RCMP Depot and significant ranching communities, became a hub for cowboy culture, hosting rodeos, fairs, and cattle sales that carried on the legacy of the Prairie cowboy.
Life as a cowboy or rancher in Saskatchewan during the late 1800s and early 1900s was demanding and often harsh. Cowboys endured long days in the saddle, herding cattle across vast, unfenced prairies in extreme weather conditions, from blistering summer heat to frigid winter storms. Their work involved branding, roping, and breaking horses, often with little rest. Ranchers faced the constant threat of cattle rustlers, disease outbreaks among livestock, and economic instability due to fluctuating beef prices. Despite these hardships, many cowboys took great pride in their skills and independence, forming tight-knit communities and developing a strong code of honor that emphasized loyalty, hard work, and respect for the land. The legendary endurance and grit of these individuals helped shape Saskatchewan’s ranching heritage and contributed to the enduring mythos of the cowboy.
The rugged terrain of Saskatchewan’s badlands, particularly in the Big Muddy Valley, served as a hideout for outlaws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Infamous fugitives, including members of the notorious Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, used the area’s caves and coulees to evade law enforcement. The remoteness of the region provided an ideal refuge for cattle rustlers, train robbers, and other outlaws, adding a legendary outlaw element to Saskatchewan’s cowboy history. Sam Kelly, one of the most well-known outlaws of the era, is said to have used the Big Muddy Badlands as a hideout before ultimately turning himself in and later becoming a law-abiding citizen.
As cowboy culture evolved, rodeos became a defining aspect of Saskatchewan’s cowboy legacy. The Maple Creek Rodeo, one of the longest-running in the province, showcases traditional cowboy skills like bronc riding and steer wrestling, preserving the spirit of the frontier. Legendary rodeo figures like Earl Bascom, often called the "father of modern rodeo," contributed to the development of rodeo sports in Canada.
Today, the cowboy remains a celebrated figure in Saskatchewan’s history, remembered through museums, rodeos, and historic sites that preserve the stories of those who worked the land. As one cowboy proverb puts it, "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." While the cowboy’s origins and evolution tell a story of cultural transformation, the skills and traditions they carried continue to be honored in the province’s ranching communities.
Bascom, Earl. Father of Modern Rodeo and Canadian Rodeo Pioneer. Calgary: Rodeo Historical Society, 1996.
Canadian Encyclopedia. “Cowboys in Canada.” Last modified 2023. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cowboy
Curationist. “Race and the Pop Culture Cowboy.” Last modified 2022. https://www.curationist.org/editorial-features/article/race-and-the-pop-culture-cowboy
Laurie. “Cowboys and Outlaws in Big Muddy of Saskatchewan.” Adventures in the World Blog. March 2021. https://laurie-adventuresintheworld.blogspot.com/2021/03/cowboys-and-outlaws-in-big-muddy-of.html