The Bar U and Canadian Raching History

Frits Pannekoek is the president of Athabasca University, and the author
of A Snug Little Flock: The Social Origins of the Riel Resistance of
1869–70.

This book was a deserving winner of the scholarly book of the year award
in Alberta and the Clio award from the Canadian Historical Association
for the best scholarly book on the prairies. While the author’s aim
was to tell the story of the 122-year-old Bar U ranch in 10 chapters, he
felt he had to do so within the wider context of the history of ranching
in Western Canada.

Evans argues that the ranch falls into three periods, each dominated by
a key figure: from 1881 to 1902, it was dominated by the North West
Cattle Company and its manager, Fred Stimson; from 1902 to 1927, it was
dominated by the legendary George Lane; and from 1927 to 1950, it was
dominated by the ranching king Pat Burns. These time frames are
congruent with some of the great events that shaped Western Canada: the
closing of the open range, Word War I, and the Depression. In dealing
with each period, the author focuses on four themes: the people at the
ranch who shaped it, the national and regional economic context,
agricultural technology, and the transformation of the range.

Evans argues that Canadian ranching historians have been preoccupied
with the so-called golden period of the open range, with an emphasis on
determining its cultural separateness from its American equivalent. He
suggests that the situation was infinitely more complex than this and
that environmental, economic, and institutional variables were more
critical determinants. In doing so, he offers new insights into the
variables that constructed the ranching context and challenges the
wisdom of David Breen and even Max Foran, who often wish to see a unique
Canadian ranching heritage. Today the Bar U is a national historic site
that attempts to accentuate a national cultural context.

The Bar U and Canadian Ranching History is an outstanding example of
the marrying of the history of a national site with new scholarly
interpretations. It deserves to be read.