Archaeological dig explores legendary Alberta rancher’s original homestead

Archaeologists hope to uncover details about John Ware, the former slave turned successful rancher and Alberta legend, in a dig on his original property near Millarville.

“We have the opportunity to assess what their daily life was like rather than just these legends and oral histories,” said Dr. Lindsay Amundsen-Meyer of the U of C’s Department of Anthropology and Archaeology.

Ware was born a slave in the American South in 1850 and, after his emancipation, found work as a ranch hand in that country, then in Alberta, before establishing his own ranch here in 1887.

Highly respected

Ware and his wife Mildred were highly respected in the community. She gave birth to four of their six children on the Millarville estate.

“I think John Ware’s story is incredible. No money, no education, a black man walking through tough areas, every day would have been an adventure and a challenge,” said Steve Fisher, whose family now owns the land.

“I would like to go back in time and see why it was installed here.”

The archaeology team and its partners hope to discover more about the man revered for his courage, good character and intelligence.

“She has been an inspiration to many. She helps us understand how much energy we needed as people to survive on this earth, how smart we had to be,” said Cheryl Foggo, a renowned author, playwright and director of a 2020 documentary about Ware in Calgary.

John Ware was born a slave in the American South in 1850 and, after his emancipation, found work as a ranch hand in the United States and then in Alberta before establishing his own ranch here in 1887.

The three-day excavation is the first substantial archaeological study of Ware’s house.

If the team finds something big, they hope to return next year.

Aerial and underground imaging systems have identified a different location than the one initially thought to be the home.

“Whether it’s the foundation of a house, a toilet or a landfill, anything of that nature that we find here will be a real goldmine,” Amundsen-Meyer said. “Every treasure contributes to enriching our history.”

“We are now beginning to understand that black cowboys were very common and even in southern Alberta, John Ware was not the only black cowboy,” Foggo said.

In 2022, the Government of Canada named Ware a person of national significance due to her notable achievements.