SMOKY LAKE, Alta. 鈥� The M茅tis Nation of Alberta is celebrating the birth of two bison calves at a cultural park northeast of Edmonton.聽
The new additions at M茅tis Crossing come after 20 wood bison were transferred to the traditional lands last year from Elk Island National Park.
It had been around 160 years since the animals lived there before they were reintroduced to the area in 2021.
M茅tis Nation president Audrey Poitras says the return of bison to the region marks a milestone in reconciliation.
She says the animals were nearly driven to extinction by settlers, forcing bison hunts to stop.
The calves will live among a herd of wood and plains bison, as well as 25 elk and 20 horses that roam the grounds.聽
鈥淭he birth of these calves is historic for M茅tis citizens in Alberta,鈥� Poitras said.
M茅tis Nation of Alberta co-ordinated the transfer of the bison to help conserve the animals and for cultural revitalization.
Juanita Marois, the CEO of M茅tis Crossing, says bison play a significant role in M茅tis culture.聽
鈥淏ison were a vital food source for M茅tis peoples and communal bison hunts were M茅tis tradition and formed the bedrock of M茅tis society,鈥� said Marois in a news release Thursday.聽
鈥淚t was at these gatherings that M茅tis democratic and judicial systems developed through 鈥楲aws of the Buffalo Hunt.鈥� The loss of the bison was felt deeply by M茅tis peoples, so to play a role in their reintroduction to these traditional lands is significant.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2023.
The Canadian Press
