areas both inside the city boundaries and out. We have members of the provincial departments that are involved, the city and the local First Nations here tonight… so hopefully we can come to some sort of a resolution.”
defiantly. The room fell silent. Barney, the local band Chief appeared to be somewhat embarrassed by the outburst. The silence was broken by the sound of a chair scraping across the floor near the back of the room.
Shorty listened while each of the table dwellers stood up and passed the blame onto the next table. “Why in hell am I here?” He thought.
“‘Cause der my horses… and I… am an Indian.” Shorty turned towards the voice. There stood Amos Louis, a native man that raised rodeo stock on his place back in the hills.
“I understand we have some issues from the floor?” A nicely dressed lady stood up and approached the mic. She spoke softly and Shorty figured she was pretty sensible sounding. “Thank you Mr. Chair. My name is Ruby White and I live three doors south of this hall. I am speaking on behalf of the homeowner Association. We would like to know what can be done to protect our property.” Ruby paused and motioned to a second lady seated at a table with a laptop. The second lady pushed a few buttons and there, on the wall was a photo of a house. “As these photos will show, we have sustained a lot of damage to our yards over the years from wildlife, cattle and Indian horses.” The photo on the wall displayed three horses, one of which was eating flowers from a flowerbed, while the other two stood in the middle of what Shorty figured was Ruby’s lawn. “Wait a second!” Shorty glanced at the voice. It was BMW boy, he was standing at the table, glaring at the room indignantly. “Mr. Chair, I am representing the First Nation and I am appalled. I object to the term Indian horses.” He directed his glare directly at Ruby. “ What Madam, makes you think these horses are ‘Indian ‘ horses?” BMW boy stood there, glaring at the room with a smug look on his face and his arms folded across his chest
“I am very sorry that my horses got on your place lady. Me and the boys will get them out of here in the morning.” Shorty looked around at the big city lawyer. He was slumped forward in his chair, Shorty thought he looked like he had been kicked in the gut….by an Indian horse. “Thank you sir,” Ruby replied. The applause started as a smattering and ended with the entire room, save the occupants of the tables, standing and applauding as Amos walked towards the exit. The meeting was over. Shorty looked at Barney. He was seated at the table beside the big city lawyer. Barney smiled and nodded at Shorty as he and Cathy filed out the door. As they walked towards the truck, they noticed the BMW was gone. “Maybe I was wrong,” thought Shorty. “I could of swore the lawyer dude was driving the BMW.” His thoughts were interrupted by his wife grabbing his arm. “Shorty, pay attention!” Shorty stopped, just in time to avoid a tow truck leaving the area with a silver coloured BMW attached to it. “Ah…it is a good day to be a big city lawyer.” Shorty smiled. “This meeting thing could grow on a guy.”
Grant Rolston was born and raised in ranching country near Penticton, British Columbia. After graduating school, he worked on a purebred Hereford ranch, then assumed a position at Western Breeders Artificial Insemination Unit. In 1980, he left the livestock scene and joined the Edmonton Police Department, where he received his formal training in photography, working for the IDENT unit (crime scene investigation). After a decade, he returned to the industry, purchasing a herd of purebred Angus cattle but both Grant and his wife, Lauralee, worked off the ranch to make a living. He chose livestock photography and is now Canada’s premier livestock photographer of beef cattle. Grant and Lauralee travel throughout nine provinces in Canada for on farm photography, in addition to all major livestock shows, including the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, the Canadian Western Agribition, and all major National Junior shows in the summer months. Grant and Lauralee Rolston reside in Vulcan, Alberta. With four decades of experience, Grant shares things that are “Not Taken for Granted.”
Today’s Angus Advantage 27