Copyright © 2026 Bertrand Bickersteth

Published by AU Press, Athabasca University

1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3

https://doi.org/10.15215/aupress/ 9781771994644.01

Cover and interior design by Natalie Olsen, kisscutdesign.com

Printed and bound in Canada

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Title: Numinous animal : tracing the Afrofuturism of Black cowboys / Bertrand Bickersteth.

Names: Bickersteth, Bertrand, 1969– author.

Series: Writing in residence.

Description: Series statement: Writing in residence | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20260166979 | Canadiana (ebook) 20260176427 | ISBN 9781771994644 (softcover) | ISBN 9781771994651 (PDF) | ISBN 9781771994668 (EPUB)

Subjects: LCSH: Black people—Prairie Provinces—History. | LCSH: Cowboys—Prairie Provinces—History. | LCSH: Cattle brands—Prairie Provinces—History. | LCSH: Afrofuturism.

Classification: LCC FC3250.B6 B53 2026 | DDC 305.896/0712—dc23

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund (CBF) for our publishing activities and the assistance provided by the Government of Alberta through the Alberta Media Fund.

This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons licence, Attribution–Noncommercial–No Derivative Works 4.0 International: see www.creativecommons.org. The text may be reproduced for noncommercial purposes, provided that credit is given to the original author. To obtain permission for uses beyond those outlined in the Creative Commons licence, please contact AU Press, Athabasca University, at aupress@athabascau.ca.