Nation to Nation collaboration sees Yellowstone bison come to Canada for the 1st time
A caravan of people pulls up over the Montana hills as the sun is about to rise. People get out of their vehicles to see about a dozen bison crowded together in a corral. Four men from Blackfeet Nation pull up in trailers prepared with hay, ready to transfer the bison to their new home over 700 kilometers away in Canada.
As people stood still in awe of the bison, a woman was going back and forth non-stop to make sure everything would go right once they hit the border and cheered happily as the veterinarian gave her the approval papers needed.
Last month, Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana, an original signatory of the Buffalo Treaty, a growing partnership of First Nations to return bison to Plains communities, gave Mosquito-Grizzly Bear’s Head-Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) in Saskatchewan 11 plains bison from the Yellowstone National Park herd. It was the first time bison from the Yellowstone herd were going to Canada.
The night before the transfer, Fort Peck’s Pte Group, a volunteer group dedicated to upholding the Buffalo Treaty, held a welcoming feast to send prayers for the travelers. As people from the two nations gathered at Wolf Point’s community center to feast on cow heart stew and fresh bannock, stories of the buffalo were shared and gifts were exchanged.
Jonny Bearcub-Stiffarm, part of the Pte Group in Fort Peck, expressed the importance of sharing the buffalo with their relatives up north. She mentioned that bringing back the buffalo is a way for the communities to heal from the trauma of the past centuries.
The 11 plains bison were brought to Fort Peck in 2024 and spent over a year in quarantine as part of the American and Canadian government’s requirements to prevent disease transmission. Defenders of Wildlife assisted with the transfer process, ensuring the safe passage of the bison to their new home.
Mosquito-Grizzly Bear’s Head-Lean Man First Nation Chief Tanya Stone followed the bison to their new home in Saskatchewan. She mentioned the significance of the bison in revitalizing ceremonies, stories, and songs within the community.
The Yellowstone bison arrived at the community in Saskatchewan to a warm welcome from the members. Chief Tanya Stone highlighted the educational and food sovereignty aspects that the bison bring to the community, emphasizing the positive impact on the health and well-being of the members.
In conclusion, the arrival of the Yellowstone bison to Mosquito-Grizzly Bear’s Head-Lean Man First Nation marks a significant milestone in the journey to restore the cultural and ecological significance of the buffalo to the Plains communities. The buffalo’s presence brings hope, healing, and a renewed sense of connection to the land and traditions of the First Nations people.
