Alex Ross (1851-1894) was famous for his incredible photographs of the First Nations people in the Calgary, Alberta from 1880s to 1890s. Below are some of his amazing, rarely-seen photos of the Tsuu T’ina (called Sarcee at that time) and the Blackfoot people. Unfortunately, Ross died at the relatively young age of 43, but he left us these beautiful photos of the First Nations people.
Blackfoot boys, ca. 1886-94
Blackfoot man in blanket, 1886-89
Blackfoot man with knife, ca. 1885-94
Blackfoot man with rifle, Alberta, 1887
Blackfoot warrior with sword, 1887
Blackfoot woman and baby on her back, 1886
Blackfoot woman and child in the late 1880s
Blackfoot women, ca. 1880s
Bobtail, Cree chief, Alberta, 1886
Chief owl of the Blackfoot, 1886
Crowfoot, chief of the Blackfoot, 1887
Crowfoot, head chief of the Blackfoot, 1887
First Nations camp near first Hudson’s Bay Company store at Fort Calgary, Alberta, 1886
First Nations man and his wife, 1886
First Nations man in blanket, ca. 1886-90
Joseph, Blackfoot man, 1887
Rabbit carrier of the Blackfoot, ca. 1886-94
Rabbit carrier of the Blackfoot, ca. 1887-89
Sarcee camp west of Calgary, ca. 1886-89
Sarcee man, 1887
Sarcee moving camp near Calgary, 1887
Sarcee woman, Katie, and her baby, 1887
Three young Blackfoot men, 1887
Three young Blackfoot men, Calgary, Alberta, 1887
Two of the first pupils at the Blackfoot Anglican School, 1886
Two Sarcee girls, 1887
(Photos via Glenbow Museum)