John Ware was a Black cowboy who settled in Alberta in the 1880’s. Born into slavery in South Carolina, he moved to Texas after the Civil War working as a cowboy. Cattle drives into Montana and beyond took him to Alberta where he settled in 1882 and soon started his own ranch near Calgary.

Using a combination of archival material, animation, and dramatized scenes, director Cheryl Foggo assesses Ware’s legacy and character and reflects on the anti-Black racism he faced that parallels her own experience growing up as a person of colour in Alberta.

Awards

CTV Alberta Audience Award 2020 Winner.