Southwestern Manitoba First Nation welcomes bison back after more than a century

A herd of bison returned to a southwestern Manitoba First Nation this week, bringing with them strength and cultural teachings for a community in need of healing, leaders say.

Doug Hanska, the Jordan’s Principle land-based co-ordinator for Birdtail Sioux First Nation, watched in awe Tuesday as the animals raced through the snow, returning to their ancestral home in the First Nation.

He helped secure the bison for the community, where they disappeared more than a century ago due to over-hunting.

“Today is a really historical event,” Hanska said. “We always wanted to bring some buffalo back … and eventually made it into reality.”

More than 100 community members — more than half of whom were students — welcomed the bison in a special ceremony. Sioux Valley Dakota Nation said it gave the 11 bison to Birdtail, about 70 kilometres to the northwest, to help strengthen Dakota identity and culture.

The bison, referred to as buffalo in the community, were escorted by the Sioux Valley Unity Riders — a group of Sioux Valley and Birdtail Sioux community members who ride in support of ceremonies and cultural issues. Carrying an eagle staff, they rode their horses ahead of the trailer as part of the special ceremony.

The animals bring much-needed positive energy, Hanska said, showing youth Dakota culture, history and teachings.

They immediately had lessons to share — one bison tripped into the snow, but picked itself right back up again, showing youth that while they may also fall sometimes, they too can pick themselves back up, said Hanska.

A female white bison is part of Birdtail’s new herd. She’s a symbol of White Buffalo Calf Woman — the spirit who gave ceremonies and teachings to the Dakota people, said Sioux Valley Chief Vince Tacan.

The two communities have been working together for about a year to help bring the bison to Birdtail, he said. The animals are part of a larger strategy of supporting community youth through cultural teachings.

“Today’s dangers that are out there … a meth crisis, we have missing and murdered Indigenous women,” Tacan said.

“There’s a lot of grief and a sense of where do we turn, what can we do?” he said. “I always believe that some of the solutions are within our culture, within our ceremonies.”

Ceremonies like welcoming the buffalo are part of a bigger picture of helping youth connect with healthy options in their free time, Tacan said, and he hopes to see more young people participate in ceremonies like sweat lodges and powwows.

Communities are just starting to tap into these opportunities, while also balancing traditions with more Western forms of healing, like treatment centres and counselling, he said.

Returning home

There are still reminders of the bison that once roamed the Birdtail First Nation area — there’s an old bison jump to the north and bison skulls and bones found in the banks of the Assiniboine River every summer, says Dustin Hanska, who teaches Dakota language and culture.

He says he’s happy to see the herd return home.

Dustin welcomed the buffalo with a drum song honouring their strength and courage of their spirit. Those are teachings people need to hear right now, he said.

He grew up learning cultural teachings from his father and grandfather through different ceremonies. Those teachings give him strength, he said.

Today’s young people don’t always have that same connection to Dakota culture, said Dustin — but he believes the bison can be a part of restoring that.

“The buffalo was our primary life source, and we watched how they handled their herds and … [saw] the teachings,” he said. 

“Seeing them back, we just have that opportunity to learn with them again.”

Tao Moody, 19, is a Birdtail youth who wants to work with the bison. He ran about 10 kilometres with the animals, from the entrance of Birdtail Sioux First Nation to their new valley home.

Moody says he’s excited to see buffalo in Birdtail — especially because the herd includes the sacred white buffalo.

“[It’s] an honour,” Moody said. “It feels good knowing that we got [11 bison].… They’re important.”

For future generations

In addition to the cultural benefits, the bison are also a step toward food sovereignty and proper nutrition, Tacan says.

“Our communities are struggling with diabetes, and so getting back to having a healthy diet and learning about where your food comes from is important.”

Historically, the Dakota had ranching and cattle farming, and the community is looking at that as a form of food sovereignty. Sioux Valley hopes to share these opportunities with other communities, Tacan said.

For now, the young bison are living in a small enclosure. Birdtail hopes to grow the herd and the land they roam, Doug Hanska said.

He hopes they’ll benefit the community for generations to come.

“We’re going to take them back into a modernized world that we’re living in.… They’re going to help us sustain our food sovereignty and food security within the community, so we can bring the old teachings into the modern day world,” he said.

“Our ancestors always thought seven generations ahead, and we need to start doing that as well.”

WATCH | Bison return to Birdtail Sioux First Nation: