Blessing Bison in Banff

In the midst of so much dismal news about the negative human impact on the ecological systems which sustain us it's encouraging when a success story of restoration emerges.

Last year 16 bison -- six bulls and ten cows -- were reintroduced to Banff National Park in Alberta. The bison or buffalo had been wiped out in this area before the park was established in 1885. Happily, they did what bison are meant to do, and all ten of the females gave birth. Most of them are carrying calves again this year, so the herd will grow.

An important aspect of this reintroduction is the involvement of First Nations and Metis peoples in blessing the bison. The official statement for Banff National Park says that they committed to recognizing the spiritual, cultural and historical importance of bison to Indigenous people: “Parks Canada has invited representatives of each Treaty 7 Nation and the Métis Nation of Alberta to participate in a private blessing ceremony on July 16, 2018, at the bison reintroduction zone in Banff National Park’s Panther Valley.”

According to the Toronto Star, one of the elders going on the trip said he is happy to participate in another ceremony for the bison. “Before they brought the buffalo over there, our people blessed the park to welcome the buffalo back to the area,” said Leroy Little Bear, an elder with the Blood Tribe, or Kainai First Nation, in southern Alberta.

The reintroduction of bison is an attempt to restore a key creature to this ecosystem. At the same time, this is a spiritual initiative for Native peoples and its important that they have been invited to provide leadership. I feel that we must rediscover the sacred aspects of ecological balance and this involvement is essential.

Thoughts?