Touchstone, New York, 2011
220 pp., illus., $29.99 hardcover
A double review with A Wilder West: Rodeo in Western Canada
by Mary-Ellen Kelm
University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, 2011
312 pp., illus., $27.95 paperback
Two recent books about the history of Western Canada’s rodeo culture are very different in their approach and content. A Wilder West, by Mary-Ellen Kelm, is a detailed overview that is academic but accessible to most readers and draws from many sources. The First Stampede of Flores LaDue, by Wendy Bryden, is largely the story of one remarkable woman who was a champion fancy roper. Bryden’s book includes imagined dialogue and relies partly on the memory of LaDue’s close friend and protege Lenore Bews McLean.
A Wilder West takes an in-depth look at rodeos from several angles, including the role of First Nations and women, the impacts on the communities that hosted these events, issues surrounding animal welfare, and efforts to “clean up” the image of rodeos. Kelm notes that the identity of cowboys as wild-living womanizers remains current, as in this 2004 T-shirt slogan: “Cowboys’ Motto: Party ’till she’s pretty.”
The book takes an especially close look at the “Indian cowboy.” It makes the interesting point that while the federal government discouraged or even forbade First Nations people from attending or participating in rodeos until the 1960s, organizers wanted Aboriginals to be present because they drew crowds and were good for business.
A Wilder West offers a nice selection of archival photos, including one of little six-year-old Joe Clark, who became prime minister, decked out in cowboy regalia and pointing a toy six-shooter. Kelm spent ten summers attending rodeos to research this book, and it shows.
The First Stampede is an easy read and suitable for younger readers. Adults might find the heavy use of imaginary dialogue and overall style too simplistic. Still, LaDue’s is a fascinating story. Born in Minnesota in 1881, Grace Maud Bensel ran away from home at sixteen to join the circus as a fancy roper. Changing her name to avoid being tracked down by her father, she ended up in Canada and met her future husband, Guy Weadick, a charming rodeo man who would go on to become the driving force behind the Calgary Stampede.
The Stampede was where LaDue truly became famous. She was the event’s fancy roping world champion from 1912 to 1919, retiring undefeated. As the author writes, “she opened the door for generations of cowgirls who would come after her.”
This review appeared in the February-March 2013 issue of Canada's History magazine.
— Nelle Oosterom (Read bio)
Nelle Oosterom is the Senior Editor of Canada's History magazine.