Heritage Research, Research Paper Example

Purpose of the research

This research will investigate the A.U. heritage group-owned ranch that has existed since 1894  aims to reconstruct it. The study will give the structural history of the farm through interviews with people who have known it, such as the granddaughter of the original owner and four former workers who have been at the ranch since its inception. The A.U. ranch is a place of the cultural landscape. Therefore, the researcher aims to collect all archival data about the site, the furniture, geography, the buildings, the bans, and the uses of the ranch to the owners and the society that currently owns it. The information will give critical material culture and details for refurbishing the farm by the end of this culture.

Requirements Of the Project

To complete this research, the investigator will conduct interviews with the workers and family members of original owners, residents from within the area and do extensive research on building and landscaping in Alberta from the time the ranch was established and onwards. This data will give the indigenous ecological setting of the place and help the researcher make sense of the cultural importance of the farm to the community. The data collected will also guide perspective from the contemporary world and document it for further studies, visitation, and indigenous perspective resources within the area.

Approach and Methodology

Order of activities for community consultation research according to Oetelaar[1]

The researcher will conduct the study by following the community consultation steps.

1. The researcher will do prior research about the needs of local people. The conditions will be incorporated into a question guide used to direct the researcher during the interviews. The researcher will also visit the ranch and collect individual data before the community consultation process begins to prepare for areas requiring clarification and additional information.
2. The researcher will then do a community mapping to understand the cultural setting of the residents and interviewees.
3. The mapping will be used to set additional consultation in the plan.
4. The researcher will then conduct the interviews and record the results.
5. The researcher will leave a loop for feedback and compile and analyze the data.

Concepts of Cultural Landscapes

International communities use cultural landscape to measure a conservation category in landscaping. Depending on its location, a cultural landscape can be rural or urban. Corbett argues that although both landscapes have physical traces coupled with a historical past, rural landscapes are attributed to larger cultural patterns such as landholding, resource extraction, transportation routes, or land that had great agricultural significance to the community.[2]. Urban landscapes, on the other hand, are very diverse, varied, and layered by the spatial relationships that define the features in them. The cultural types of the latter are more minor, closely defined, and suburban. The historical significance includes cemeteries, neighborhoods, parks, memorial gardens, or streetscapes.

Ecological Understanding and Indigenous Perspective Input to Modern Landscape Conservation

The relationship between the culture and natural use of the landscape is essential in perceiving how people interact with the place. For the landscape under study, the area is a ranch that has served as a critical focal point for agriculture in the area. During its establishment in 1894, agriculture had become an important economic activity, with major agricultural pieces being used for large-scale farming, such as the A.U. ranch in Alberta. The layout of the ranch where the original owners set two large barns subsequently indicates its quick expansion and potential supply of animal products to the community.

The indigenous ecological understanding was set up to protect biodiversity and manage the resources in the landscape. In this particular ranch, the original owners set bans where animals were fed from and helped control the use of the natural resources. This setting also ensured food security for the animals in the ranch and sustainable livelihood for the community. This understanding forms a strong basis that offers ways of overcoming the challenge of climate change, depletion of natural resources, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the local community. The guide responsible for help at the A.U. ranch set by the second owner describes potential threats. It gives detailed information on how to overcome them to improve the condition of the ranch. In addition, the convention for biological diversity under article 10 (C) outlined cultural landscapers to follow a set of rules that lead to sustainable resource management that the researcher aims to abide by and seek more information during the consultation process.

Connection Of Sense of A.U. Ranch to The Cultural Landscape

A.U. ranch is a heritage ranch located in Southern Alberta. It is situated on four acres of land in the Foothills area, off Highway 22, 96 kilometers south of the Calgary area. The ranch is owned by A.U. heritage ranch society, a local heritage group, which, in 1912, set two stories each of four-square style ranch house. There are two large-frame horse barns where constructed in 1916 and 1924. Since its establishment in 1894 and operated up to the late 1940s. There are no artifacts collected from this ranch, and little has changed on the inside of the ranch because it has had only two owners. The bans are well maintained and in fair condition. The men who worked in the ranch in the 1940s are still alive, and additionally, the granddaughter to the first owner is available for more information at Calgary.

In the Northeastern parts of Canada, such as Alberta, farms that set up ranches relied heavily on the railway connection. The cattle reared were mainly managed by family members such as the A.U. ranch, and the practice went on from generation to the next, or the owners sold the ranch to someone else in the cattle business. The farmers rode horses to move around the farm; hence many had two barns. To separate horses from the cattle. Cobbett said cattle could feed freely when unloaded while horses pulled the rail cars with lighter loads.[3]. Cattle sometimes trailed and wrecked farms. Alberta had hard winter, especially between 1896 and 1923, and farmers reduced calf crops to maximize savings to purchase oats for the other cattle. Oetelaar states that in 1919, there was a general drop in cattle due to the harsh winter and high price of feed.[4]. Due to the large acreage of land owned by ranch owners in the Alberta area, many donated lands to construct schools, hospitals, churches, and essential social services. Many farmers, such as the original owners of the A.U. ranch, preferred to have pure breeds of cattle, such as the pure horned Hereford that this ranch was famous for in the area. Children and grandchildren grew up helping on the farm, making the granddaughter and resource person about the ranch. The original owners participated in the Calgary bull sale hence were well known by both locals and businesspeople for their pure breed of Hereford.

Preliminary Visual Images

Four-square-style ranch house constructed by the original owner of the A.U. ranch. The balcony on the upper floor enables people to watch their animals as they grazed freely on the farm. The house is also constructed on the upper side of the ranch to spot predators and activities from far even when at home.

Well-manicured paths along the ranch to direct the movement of people and animals and prevent treading on the grass. In addition, the lawned grass added to the aesthetic of the A.U. ranch.

The A.U. ranch has natural sources of water that are well protected and barns and farms houses constructed near them. Onusko explains that the murram roads are sidelined with poles as a sign of viable paths and preserve the ranch’s ecology.[5].

A picture taken in 1915 shows the socio-economic activities of the people. The children imitate their parents, and adults collect grass. The other picture indicates the ranch owners as influential people in the Alberta area in the 1890s and 1900s with lots of social and political meetings images by the family members as backed up by evidence from Oetelaar.[6].

An abandoned cart at the ranch indicates this as the mail form of carrying goods around the farm.

A feedlot marked to have been constructed in 1898 indicted a ranch with over one thousand cattle capacity.

Ban collection sites before relocation during summer and spring.

There was a separate calf bay where calves were fattened and the viable ones selected for sale. Weaning began early, and the current owners use the practice to date.

This image dated 1895 of horses grazing freely on white grass is an indication that the original owner grew separate feed and fodder for cattle and horses.

A watchtower on the hillside of the ranch indicates free-range grazing of the bulls.

Random lights on parts of the ranch near the forest to scare away wild animals, mainly prey on the cattle.

A streetlamp decorated with bronze images of naked children playing indicates a beautiful social place.

A railroad that cuts through the farm shows the importance of this means of transport for A.U. ranch owners to transport their animals and basic needs. Ranch proximity to railroads was a key factor determining its success from this image. Seesequasis explains that many ranches gave railway constructors way through to ease transportation.[7].

A raised water tower and brown grass indicate previous water shortages that the ranch owners overcame by pumping water from the building.

This picture taken in 1947 during winter of the second owner wearing a fur coat shows that other ranches in the area specialized in other forms of animal keeping. The court is Lethbridge-made and of high quality. Herbert explains that dogs seem to be an essential part of the ranch[8]. Like many other images hung on the house walls, owners have adults and children with dogs.

Initial Themes and Topics

Land Management

The A.U. ranch is paddocked with a hardwood fence, cattle dip, and water troughs. The owners rotated the animals depending on season across the paddocks within the ranch, which helped control the overgrazing and underfeeding of the animals. Corbett states that the owners documented the number of animals before winter to manage the feed and purchase enough to take them through the harsh season.[9]. The owners planted grass that suited the area and fortified water catchment areas during the rainy season to avoid water shortages during the summer and spring. All animals sold at Calgary, Ottawa, and Ontario were transported by rail; hence proximity to a railroad was crucial.

Social Life

The A.U. ranch is characterized by various social activities especially, by original owners. The family that owned the ranch allowed children from the neighborhood to take part in tasks on the farm. Mather states that these activities included directing the animals, watching the cattle, horse ride competition, and playing with children of families on the ranch.[10]. The ranch was often fenced to prevent the animals from straying, but they were open to the local communities and children. From the images collected in the family house, the A.U. farm had horse race competitions bi-annually. The family members accrued many trophies displayed on the walls around the house. The ranch has donated a piece of land to construct a school and local dispensary hence its proximity to essential social services. The researcher aims to find more about the ranch owners and the social engagement and aims for the future.

A people’s culture is their ultimate definition. The A.U. society is a group that is well-versed in ranching. Work at the farm can be tedious, especially during cattle dips, harvesting grass, construction, and managing the ranch in general. However, Hammill and Michelle argue that many farmers and people in Canada are categorized as highly pleasant, fun, and committed.[11]. To strike a balance into the cultural landscape of this ranch, Todd asserts that the researcher must investigate the people’s culture and how the natural environment influenced their social, economic, and political activities. The images from the time of the ranch establishment and today’s indicate changes in people’s lives in the area.[12]. For example, the A.U. land show neglected streetlamps, abandoned roads, and dry water troughs, indicating adverse changes caused by drought, reduced animal feed, and scattered homes south of the ranch compared to the north greener, well-manicured, and busy roads.

List of potential material culture resources to support furnishing the site

1. Basilica museum’s gilt silver chalice with gold plating made by Townsend William. Accession number Noacession 17.
2. Silk, cotton, and gold vestment that was made in 1955. Accession number Noacesssion12
3. British society new testament bible. Accession number 213. It is found at the pouch Cove Museum
4. Statues from 1900 made of ceramic and wood. Accession number C900
5. Meat cover made of silver and stainless steel. Accession number 01/03/2003 found at admiralty house archives.
6. Paintings by Glyde Henry George can be found at the University of Alberta. The accession number is 1974.23.28. This painting is used for aesthetic value addition of the interiors of the ranch house. It is of medium size hence be hung along the staircase to give a rich heritage of the culture.
7. The researcher can use paintings by Alberta Gold that are made of wood and oil. Their accession number is 1950.3 and located at the University of Alberta. Their brown color can add beauty to the already existing themes on some interior walls.
8. The Alberta history drawings from the eighteenth century, accession number 1974.23.13, can be used for the family living room. The drawing exhibit a rich history of the Alberta ranches on graphite mediums.
9. Original quartzite axes will furnish the barns as a reminder of the ancient ways of maintaining the ranches and the hard work the owners did to ensure the animals were taken care of.
10. A grooved maul image can be displayed at the gate to indicate the entrance to a well-maintained ranch. Onusko argues that the sandstone gives visitors historical information on an environment filled with indigenous resources such as sandstones.[13]. The accession number is 971.14.1
11. Quartzite side scraper, accession number 99.5.3 from the Alberta museum, helps contemporary society see how far ranching has improved and ranch tools over the time in Alberta.

[1] Oetelaar, Delilah Joy. Climatic Risk or Social Progress the Historiography of Ranching in Southern Alberta. Thesis (M.A.)–University of Calgary, 2000., 2000.

[2] Corbett, Bill. Let Me Tell You?: a Memoir on Reaching Eighty Years of an Alberta-based Life?: Calgary: Tom Corbett, 2005.

[3] Corbett, Bill. Let Me Tell You?: a Memoir on Reaching Eighty Years of an Alberta-based Life?: Calgary: Tom Corbett, 2005.

[4] Oetelaar, Delilah Joy. Climatic Risk or Social Progress the Historiography of Ranching in Southern Alberta. Thesis (M.A.)–University of Calgary, 2000., 2000.

[5] Ozusko, James A. Boom Kids?: Growing up in the Calgary Suburbs, 1950-1970. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada?: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2021.

[6] Oetelaar, Delilah Joy. Climatic Risk or Social Progress the Historiography of Ranching in Southern Alberta. Thesis (M.A.)–University of Calgary, 2000., 2000.

[7] Seesequasis, Paul. Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun?: Portraits of Everyday Life in Eight Indigenous Communities. Toronto?: Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2019.

[8] Herbert, Rachel. Ranching Women in Southern Alberta?: Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2017

[9] Corbett, Bill. Let Me Tell You?: a Memoir on Reaching Eighty Years of an Alberta-based Life?: Calgary: Tom Corbett, 2005.

[10] Mather, Ken. Frontier Cowboys and the Great Divide?: Early Ranching in B.C. and Alberta. Victoria, B.C.: Heritage House, 2013.

[11] Hammill, Faye, and Michelle Smith. Magazines, Travel, and Middlebrow Culture?: Canadian Periodicals in English and French, 1925-1960. Edmonton, Alberta?: The University of Alberta Press; First edition., 2015.

[12] Todd, Matt. The Paradise Syndrome?: Environment, Boosters, and Ranching Along the Montana/Alberta Borderlands. Saskatoon: M. Todd, 2017.

[13] Onusko, James A. Boom Kids?: Growing up in the Calgary Suburbs, 1950-1970. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada?: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2021.