*
A Report from "The Ecological Recovery of the North American
Bison" Conference
Buffalo Field Campaign board member Justine Sanchez attended
the recent conference in Denver in October 2006 and wrote
the following account of her experience:
I stood outside my home in the high Rocky Mountains in the
crisp, cool morning air. It was 5:30 am, dark, with stars
sparkling in the sky. I lit some fragrant sage...a gift given
to me and my family from Lakota Elders who visited the buffalo
camp last spring. Held in a large abalone shell the sage smoke
lifted my heavy heart and thoughts into the cold morning air.
I was on my way to Denver for a conference on the Ecological
Recovery of the North American Bison, hosted by the Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS). As the sage continued to burn,
so did many of my still unanswered questions regarding, in
particular, the Yellowstone bison. I asked for nothing in
my offering of sage...I just prayed...for the buffalo.
The conference began in the early evening on Monday with an
introduction from conference organizer, Kent Redford of WCS.
Dick Baldes of the Wind River Alliance and member of the Eastern
Shoshone spoke afterwards of the Cultural Role of Bison. Dick's
face is happy with sparkling eyes that remind me of the stars.
A grandpa and lover of the Wind River, I found myself wanting
to ensure that buffalo re-inhabit that landscape not only
for the sake of the bison, but for Dick and his people. My
family and I drive through the Wind River Reservation on our
way from Colorado to the Buffalo Field Campaign. We always
camp at Sinks Canyon, just south of the Wind River. Later
in the conference, Dick and I spoke of the special nature
of the Popo Agie River that disappears into a limestone cavern
in Sinks Canyon. A quarter mile down the road, the river resurfaces
into a still pool where large trout live. I admire Dick Baldes.
He's a man who spoke of the hundreds of thousands of acres
ready and waiting for wild buffalo in the Wind River Reservation.
So close to the Yellowstone herd! Why not allow the bison
to reinhabit their native lands with the Eastern Shoshone
and Northern Arapahoe and not to slaughter? The question still
burns.
Steve Sanderson, WCS President, spoke next. Steve laid out
a brief history of bison in North America and the relation
of the American Bison Society (ABS) to early bison recovery.
The conference corresponds to the anniversary of the founding
of the ABS, a parent organization of the WCS. Steve encouraged
a cooperative dialogue between all stakeholders and a respect
for all perspectives. I especially appreciated his view as
BFC was not exactly on the top of the invitation list. In
fact, we weren't even invited. After learning of the conference,
Dan Brister, BFC Project Director, had a lengthy discussion
with conference organizers in order to ensure our participation.
Dan was able to convince WCS that the BFC has an important
perspective to share on bison recovery. As a BFC board member
and resident of Colorado, I was sent to represent BFC and
found myself in a city I rarely visit, Denver.
The rest of that first evening included an impressive list
of presenters speaking on the Institutional Perspectives on
the Ecological Future of Bison. The list of panelists demonstrates
how much bison and their recovery is studied, analyzed, and
talked about in North America: Bruce Runnels, The Nature Conservancy
(TNC); Lawrence Linden, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) & Goldman
Sachs; Dave Carter, National Bison Association (ABA); Micheal
Fox, InterTribal Bison Cooperative (ITBC); Micheal Soukup,
National Park Service (NPS); Stephen Woodley, Parks Canada;
and Andrew Isenberg, Professor of History, Temple University.
All spoke of the importance of bison recovery for spiritual,
ecological, historical, health and economic reasons.
Afterwards, the panelists took questions from the audience
and I quickly raised my hand. I remarked how it was ironic
that the NPS felt it their mission to ensure that Americans
see bison in national parks when last year alone the NPS killed
almost 1000 genetically and behaviorally unique buffalo from
Yellowstone National Park (YNP). I asked, as part of this
conference, if we may dispel the myth of brucellosis and remove
the heavy handed management scheme currently in place for
Yellowstone bison. The microphone was quickly removed from
my hands and the facilitator neglected to ask any of the panelists
to comment. Luckily, the next person to ask for the microphone
asked that the panel please address the question. Micheal
Soukup of NPS reminded the audience that brucellosis is a
reality and that it is very "troubling to shoot bison
that wander out of the park because of brucellosis.."
Nonetheless, I had made a splash as the confrontational one
from the BFC. Later that evening over cocktails and hors d'vors
at the Denver Public Library I spoke with a scientist who
admitted that while brucellosis is not a detrimental disease
ecologically speaking it is a political reality...and cattle
still reign in the West. On the Express back to Boulder I
noted that the Ecological Recovery of Bison should really
be renamed the Political Recovery.
The next day was again filled with impressive presenters.
James Derr, leading bison geneticist, Texas A&M; James
Shaw, Oklahoma State University; John Gross, Ecologists, NPS
and IUCN; Sharon Joseph, Association of Zoos and Aquaria;
Ray Rasker, Headwaters Economics; Tom Olson, Bison Producers
of Alberta; Rodrigo Medellin, Instituto de Ecologia, Mexico;
Nicholas Larter, Gov't of the NW Territories, Canada; and
Keith Aune, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). Here panelists
spoke on the multiple facets of bison conservation and the
constraints and opportunities for ecological management across
the range. Again, the audience had the opportunity to question
the panelists, and, though I waited, I was again the first
to raise my hand for the microphone. I couldn't resist asking
Keith Aune of FWP again about brucellosis. In addition, I
mentioned how we had just learned in great detail from Jim
Derr that when making genetic comparisons of all the herds
in North America, the Yellowstone bison are unique in their
genetic variation...not to mention that they have never been
extinguished from their historical range. Aune stuck with
brucellosis and claimed that only through quarantine could
Yellowstone bison be beneficial to ecological recovery across
the plains. During the break following the morning session,
I had many people approach me and compliment the BFC for our
great work. I walked on to my break-out group meeting room
thinking, "am I the only one with a voice?" If so
many people here respect our work and want to hear the tough
questions asked, why don't they voice them themselves!?
I was honored to attend the Native American break-out group
where attention was focused more on the spiritual and cultural
rather than the ecological and political. I sat across from
Dick Baldes, happy to see his smiling face and hear of his
distaste for quarantine and heavy management of the Yellowstone
herds. Craig Fleener of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments,
Yukon Flats, Alaska, was a strong facilitator. Craig was very
passionate and focused on returning the Wood Bison to the
Flats. Bison are the only missing native member of that ecosystem
and there are many thousands of acres to offer for their recovery.
I was lucky to hear the stories and wisdom of the First Nation
Peoples. I tried to remain quiet and listen, but had to speak
out against the brutality shown to the survivors in Yellowstone.
We were able to complete the assignment given to each group
and Craig Fleener presented our results to the assembly afterwards.
Unfortunately, I had to miss Gary Nahban of the Center for
Sustainable Environments presentation linking the recovery
of bison to habitat restoration and food production. I did
get to read his manifesto and was quite pleased with the quality
and heart shown in his work. Again, I rode the Express home
this time feeling exhausted. The power and beauty of the Native
people attending the conference flooded my heart, mind, and
soul. Later that evening I gathered with a dance group of
which I am a member. I offered my dance that evening for the
buffalo and for all the attendees of that conference who need
to move in their bodies and reconnect to Spirit.
The conference ended with presentations from Florence Gardipee,
University of Montana; Stuart Strahl, Chicago Zoological Society;
Ron Heibert, NPS; and Justina Ray, WCS Canada. Both Stuart
and Justina mentioned that what was missing from this conference
was the confrontation: addressing the difficult issues and
hashing them out. Justina also mentioned the small representation
of women and hoped that next time we could incorporate more
of the feminine. Again, the floor was opened for comments
and questions. The facilitator asked that those who had not
yet spoken be given the first opportunity. So, I waited respectfully
and when nobody raised their hand, I took the opportunity.
Again, I spoke of the importance of the Yellowstone bison
and the abysmal treatment they currently are forced to endure.
And again I was alone in addressing the conflict, most other
comments were thanking the conference organizers. Yet, Ed
Iron Cloud, Great Plains Restoration Council, mentioned that
the Brown Palace Hotel, where the conference was held, was
most likely built on the bones of buffalo and his ancestors.
Craig Fleener pleaded with the group to help ensure the return
of Wood Bison to the Yukon Flats and to actually DO something,
take action after this conference so that our efforts here
don't go to waste. Mike Fox, ITBC, jokingly suggested that
maybe we should tag and quarantine Native Americans and reintroduce
them back in to Yellowstone!
Sandra Alcosser, Poet Laureate of MT, closed the session with
readings from three Native Americans who attended the conference
and approached Sandra wanting to share their work. I felt
inspired by their words; passionate, angry, wise. More than
ever I feel dedicated to the buffalo and to the mission of
the Buffalo Field Campaign; to see buffalo recognized in Montana
and across North America as a valued and recovered native
wildlife species and to see Native American tribes' wisdom
and guidance heeded in the management and recovery of Wild
Bison.
Justine Sanchez
Buffalo Field Campaign
Back
to Top |
