Legends of Our Times Native Cowboy Life Author:Morgan Baillargeon, Leslie Tepper Throughout the world, the image of the cowboy is an instantly recognized symbol of the North American West. This lavishly illustrated book tells the story of some of the first cowboys -the Native peoples of the Plains and Plateau. The story begins with the special relationship that Native peoples living in western North America have had with the... more » horse, buffalo, coyote and dog. Accounts of these relationships have been passed from generation to generation through songs, dances and stories. These animals were, and for many peoples continue to be, an important part of their social, spiritual and economic life. By the mid-19th century, many Native people were applying their knowledge, experience and skills in breeding horses and herding to take advantage of the new economic opportunities offered in ranching and as working cowboys. Faced with limited resources, competition for land, and control by governments, missionaries and Indian agents, many people still managed to develop their own herds or find work on other people's land. New forms of entertainment and sport evolved as the frontier was settled. As the ways of the Old West changed, impresarios such as Buffalo Bill Cody devised the Wild West show, employing Native people as actors and stuntmen to re-enact pivotal scenes from the "history" of the West and to demonstrate the friendly competitions that cowboys enjoyed at the end of a long round-up or cattle drive. From these activities developed the modern forms of entertainment such as films with cowboy themes. Rodeos became important activities within the Native community and arenas were built on many reserves. In "Legends of Our Times", Native people through poetry, legend and personal reminiscences tell about their participation in ranching and rodeo life. The text is richly supported by photographs of artifacts, historical and contemporary photographs, and drawings gathered from archives and musesums in Canada and the United States. Today, Plains and Plateau peoples proudly continue a long tradition of cowboying. "Legends of Our Times" is a celebration of their rich contribution to ranching and rodeo life.« less