In the early 19th century, the Great Plains of North America was a vast, uninhabited wilderness where millions of bison roamed free long before Europeans arrived. Because they provided people with food, clothing, fuel, tools, shelter, and spiritual value, the bison that lived in the region now Saskatchewan significantly contributed significantly to the province’s history and culture.
Bison have been an essential part of tribal culture. The Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council, which was founded in 1992, collaborates with the National Park Service to move bison from national park sites to tribal territory.
The American buffalo, sometimes referred to as the Plains bison (Bison bison bison), was the biggest terrestrial mammal in North America. The area’s Indigenous peoples relied greatly on these magnificent animals for tools, clothing, shelter, and food, making them vital to their survival.
Source – CBC News
Bison herds have been moving over the plains for ages, following the seasonal patterns. The bison found a rich and diverse environment in Saskatchewan, from the grassy grasslands to the parkland areas and the northern boreal forests. They were able to thrive in this variety of environments, and they eventually contributed significantly to the ecosystem.
Source – CBC News
The late 19th-century European settlement of Saskatchewan brought about a challenging time for bison. The settlers wiped out the bison population because they were motivated by a need for land and the exploitation of natural resources. As part of a strategy by settlers to starve Indigenous people into submission, bison were purposefully hunted to almost extinction.
Dr. Ernie Walker states, “Around 400 years ago, there were 26 to 30 million bison on the Great Plains in North America, and by the 1890s, there were just 1,200.” A catastrophic drop in bison populations was caused by widespread hunting, which was primarily motivated by the demand for bison hides and meat.
Conservation initiatives were launched as the destructive effects of overhunting became evident. A couple of individuals figured out the benefit of safeguarding buffalo for their environmental and social jobs. By the early 20th century, few of these lovely creatures were held in protection zones and confidential groups in Saskatchewan because of endeavours to shield the last buffalo.
James McKay, who started a bison herd on his ranch in the early 1900s, is one of the most significant figures in the preservation of bison in Saskatchewan. His actions and those of other like-minded people and groups contributed to the Plains bison’s survival.
The bison population in Saskatchewan started to increase slowly over time. The creation of protected environments for bison to wander freely was largely made possible by conservation areas and national parks, including Grasslands National Park in the southern section of the province. These initiatives helped control the population, along with rigorous hunting laws and education on the significance of bison to the ecology.
The resilient nature of the bison is still evident in Saskatchewan today. Many regions of the province have successfully restored bison herds, and these herds now graze the prairies, enhancing the environment and reuniting people with their roots.
According to estimates, there were close to 400,000 bison in North America as of January 1, 2017, most of which were in herds maintained by tribes and ranchers. A true success story for conservation, there were reportedly 975 bison producers in Canada as of January 1, 2017, who owned close to 145,000 bison. – Canadian Bison Association
The voyage of the bison in Saskatchewan serves as a striking reminder of the significant impact that human activities have on the natural world. Their narrative, from near extinction to recovery, shows the tenacity of both these majestic creatures and the people who have devoted their lives to their preservation. The bison inspires our love and protection for the vast areas that make up our country’s landscape in Canada and the rich Indigenous traditions that have honoured bison for centuries.
