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Say howdy
John Ware with his buddy Bill Moodie (from Howdy, I’m John Ware by Ayesha Clough with illustrations by Hugh Rookwood of Chozen Studios, Airdrie)
Kids’ book celebrates legendary Black Albertan
At the end of spring, protests rocked the U.S. over the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota. A renewed and resounding call of “Black Lives Matter” went up around the world.
At the same time, close to home, a children’s book about Canada’s most famous Black cowboy was quietly making its way into homes in Airdrie and southern Alberta.
Howdy, I’m John Ware is written by airdrielife contributor and former CBC News reporter Ayesha Clough. It tells the real-life story of the pioneer rancher who helped establish Alberta’s cattle industry in the late 1800s.
Clough first heard about John Ware when she saw his historic log cabin at Dinosaur Provincial Park near Brooks, Alta. Since 2019, she’s been on a mission to publish Alberta stories, prompted by her son’s passion for cowboys and horses.
“I was surprised how few people knew John‘s story, so it was a no-brainer really,” she says.
Ware’s story practically writes itself. Leaving behind slavery and war in the southern U.S., he rode north to Canada in 1882, bringing the foundation herd of cattle to the Bar U Ranch in what was then the District of Alberta. Despite facing hardship and discrimination, he went on to become one of the most loved and respected ranchers in southern Alberta.
“He won people over through hard work, kindness, and sheer ability as a rider, roper and rancher,” says Clough.
His feats are the stuff of legend. Folks said John could ride “anything with hair on,” that he was struck by lightning and lived, that he could walk across a pen on the backs of bulls, even that he discovered oil in Turner Valley!
“His story is legendary, but it’s also personal for me,” says illustrator Hugh Rookwood, who moved to Airdrie from Toronto two years ago, and runs Chozen Studios out of his home in Sagewood. (Look for a feature on Rookwood in the fall issue.)
“Like John, I adopted Alberta as home for me and my family. It’s a less hurried, more friendly place to put down roots. Stories like John’s really add a sense of belonging,” Rookwood adds.
While the project was underway well before the anti-racism protests, the timing of the book’s release was not lost on Rookwood.
“Friends were sharing the books on Facebook, saying, ‘Now my kid finally gets what it means to say Black Lives Matter.’”
Although the book was never intended to be political, the creators were moved by its reception.
“We never imagined the book would take on such significance – more than 100 years after John died,” says Clough, who self-published the book with the help of 111 backers on Kickstarter.
“If John’s story can play a small part in teaching kids the power of love, kindness and acceptance, then we’ve done our job.”
Howdy, I’m John Ware is the second children’s book published by Clough’s company, Red Barn Books. The next book in the series will be Howdy, I’m Flores LaDue, about the world champion trick rider, Cowgirl Hall of Famer and First Lady of the Calgary Stampede. life
Books can be purchased online at redbarnbooks.com or in store at Homegrown House and Pantry VIRTUAL TOUR360˚
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- Hugh Rookwood, book illustrator
