The Great White West
Posted on July 9, 2008 by Stuart Kerty
When most people think about cowboys and the wild west, they tend to think of the western United States. However, the Canadian west has an equally rich cowboy heritage that is relived each July at the Calgary Stampede, a celebration of the early days of roping, riding, and rodeo. Each year, well over a million people turn out to whoop it up, Canuck cowpoke style.
To represent this year’s Stampede the organizers wanted an image that reflected Canada’s western heritage and values. They commissioned Canadian artist Doug Levitt, who painted A Man of His People to honor the culture of the First Nations (the aboriginal tribes of Canada) and offer a sense of nostalgia and respect for the Stampede’s long history with the Plains people. To ensure historical accuracy, the artist worked closely with native elders to portray as many Plains tribes as possible. Levitt’s artwork is reproduced on the 2008 limited edition gold- and silver-plated belt buckle commemorating the event.Â
There’s still time to buy the buckle, but you better saddle up fast if you want to join this year’s stampede where, until July 13, the wild wild west is still part of the great white north…
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