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it brought the teachings with it that we have to follow, The bison enclave at Riding Mountain National Park
humility and the prophecies.” is another option for the prospective bison viewer,
The herd started up several years ago out of the where wildlife biologist Doug Bergeson said that their
realization that non-Indigenous farmers in the area five-square-kilometre fenced off region finds the
were raising bison, which Indigenous people relied on bison meander about year-round.
for generations. “We have some native, or natural grasslands out there
Tacan said that it was strange that they didn’t have for the bison to graze on, so it’s kind of a small
any, so they created a herd, with the community remnant of what was probably the historic prairie

Bison cross a flooded section of their pen at the bison enclosure
near Minnedosa Lake on a hot Wednesday afternoon.

purchasing bulls from the nearby Bison Spirit Ranch ecosystem in the west,” he said. “We do get quite a few
and heifers from Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota. visitors out there; it’s a popular attraction because
“It’s partly our people; giving them hope, with all the people are almost guaranteed to see bison out there.”
sickness,” Tacan said, adding that community Situated on the west side of Clear Lake near Lake
members will oftentimes to go the bison to pray and Audy, the herd of approximately 30 bison was
seek solutions and healing. introduced in 1931, when 20 bison were transferred
The herd is open to the public, with anyone interested from Buffalo National Park near Wainwright, Alberta.
in experiencing them encouraged to do so, Tacan said. A cattle gate allows visitors to drive right up to the
Although they’re available for viewing at any time, he bison to see them in action, which Bergeson said is
is also able to arrange tours for those interested in quite popular.
gaining a greater understanding of the animals. “It’s a good opportunity to learn about the grasslands,
Situated just north of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, and how the west, historically, was like with these
Bison Spirit Ranch co-owner Trevor Gompf said that animals,” he said, adding; “You get a good appreciation
he’s also keen on showing people around. for how impressive they are and how the prairies
Although he raises the animals for the commercial must have looked back in the day, when there were
practice of meat production, Gompf said that he’s thousands if not hundreds of thousands of these
nonetheless captivated by the creatures, whose animals roaming around.”
rugged ability to withstand the elements is an
inspiration.
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