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* Special Announcement: Protecting the Land
for the Wild Yellowstone Buffalo
Dear Buffalo Friends,
Last spring, in the midst of the worst buffalo slaughter
in Buffalo Field Campaign history, we learned that our
landlord, whom we've been renting from for nearly ten
years, had plans to sell our headquarters, the historic
Hebgen Lake Lodge and the ten acres on which it sits,
to a developer. Not only would the planned subdivision
and trophy homes forever destroy critical deer, elk,
and bison habitat, but it would leave BFC without a
base of operations from which to carry out our critical
work for the buffalo.
Thanks to the amazing generosity of some of our key
supporters who wanted to protect habitat and keep the
Buffalo Field Campaign strong and in the field, we were
able to enter into negotiations with the property owner,
reach an agreement to purchase the property, and come
up with a considerable down payment. After working
all summer to conduct our due diligence, we recently
closed on the property, guaranteeing a BFC presence--and
a small but important bison safe zone--in the Yellowstone
Ecosystem for as long as we need to be here with the
bison.
The property, located in the heart of the bison and
elk's migration corridor between Yellowstone Park and
the lush Madison Valley, is essential to the mission
and purpose of BFC, which is to stop the slaughter of
Yellowstone's wild buffalo herd, protect the habitat
of wild free roaming buffalo and native wildlife, and
to work with people of all nations to honor the sacredness
of wild buffalo.
Last winter five separate groups of bison walked through
this corridor and past the property seeking lower elevation
habitat. One group of more than 30 buffalo even
spent the night on the property, which borders 242,000
acres of roadless National Forest land, including the
Lee Metcalf Wilderness.
Also included with the property, in addition to BFC's
main lodge and our media and office cabins, are six
small cabins. Bringing these cabins into the fold
will allow us to increase the amount of work we accomplish
for the buffalo. In the near future we plan on
converting some of these cabins for use as additional
office space, a video editing suite, housing for BFC
coordinators, a bison resource library, and cozy accommodations
for supporters who wish to experience firsthand the
beauty of the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the powerful presence
of America's only continuously wild bison herd, and
the important work of the Buffalo Field Campaign.
With the purchase of the property BFC further establishes
itself as a long-term presence for the buffalo.
Even after we stop the slaughter and help to earn the
buffalo the tolerance and respect they deserve there
will be a need to continue to educate people from around
the world on the importance--historical, cultural, and
scientific--of this unique species. There is no
better place to carry on this work than from the heart
of their habitat.
Purchasing our headquarters is the first step in BFC's
new Habitat Protection Project, aimed at identifying,
prioritizing, and permanently protecting, through conservation
easement and outright purchase, critical habitat and
migration corridors within the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Please Help BFC Achieve Our Vision: Send your Support
Today!
Entering into property ownership is a huge step for
BFC, and while there is no question that it was a right
and necessary step that will exponentially increase
our effectiveness, the purchase and related costs will
also have a significant impact on our expenses.
Please consider making a contribution today in support
of this new and exciting phase of our tireless work
on behalf of the wild bison. Please contact us
for more information or make a secure online donation
by clicking here or clicking Donate Now from the Buffalo
Field Campaign web site.
Thank you all for making our presence in the field -and
every aspect of our work on behalf of the Yellowstone
buffalo- possible!
For the Buffalo,
Buffalo Field Campaign
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* West Coast Road Show Wrap-Up
After over six weeks on the road, the West Coast road
show has finally made it home! We travelled the
west coast from Friday Harbor, Washington, through Oregon
and along the California coast to our southern show
finale with John Trudell! It was an amazing journey
as so many beautiful people attended our shows to take
in the story of the last remaining wild bison.
Everywhere we went, we were received with good will
and kindness, as folks gave what they could to allow
our quest to continue down the coast. We are grateful
for those gifts of fresh fruit and great food, safe
places to rest, and for the feeling of kinship that
we all now share.
This year, we were blessed with the incredible live
music of our close friend Goodshield! Goodshield
was with us at almost every show and sacrificed time
with his family to be with us and to spread the powerful
messages woven within the lyrics of his songs.
Thank you Goodshield Family. We'll see you soon!
Tayamni
Thanks to Tom in Missoula; Shawn and Arden in Seattle;
the Whale Museum, Mary, Linda, Tony and Megan in Friday
Harbor; Tulalip Youth Radio Club & Tulalip Tribes
Prevention Department, Tulalip Boys and Girls Club,
Robin, Angel, and Stephen on Tulalip Indian Reservation;
Fair Trade Coffee House, Deane, Derrick Jensen, Rick
and family in Olympia; City Repair, Motion, Rain, and
Rebecca in Portland; Visual Arts Center, Andrew and
Michelle in Newport; Bulb Ranch, Saxton, Kris, Anne,
Becky and Cindy, and Grizzly Granola in Eugene; K.S.
Wild, Stephanie, Alicia, Tony, and Lilia, and Pioneer
Hall in Ashland; Grizz, Scott and family, JoAnn Rand,
Arcata Farmerís Market, Redwood
Peace and Justice Center, Amber, Sundog, Cove, and Jasper,
Sam, and Kira in Arcata; Garberville Civic Center, Callaughn,
and Jared in Garberville; Santa Cruz Farmers Market,
Uncle Dennis, Louden Nelson Center, Ray, Cat, and Karen
in Santa Cruz; Kristen and Kevin, Amanda, Heather, Alex
and Allison, Shipi, Michael Franti and Power to the
Peaceful in San Francisco; Ecology Center and Karen
in Berkeley; Indian Health Center in Sacramento; Peace
and Justice Center, Randy, and Linda in Stockton; Leonard
Peltier Support Group/ South Bay, Native Voice TV, Center
for Training & Careers/ Work NET El Observador,
Rose and Sampson in San Jose; Nancy, Jetze and Sheila
in Menlo Park; Randy and Fayrue in Monterey; Miranda
in San Luis Obisbo; Chipper, Jim, and Patagonia in Ventura;
Lorin, Andrew and family, special thanks to John Trudell
and Faye in Malibu; and Ron and Patagonia in Reno.
Also, thank you to everyone else who helped make this
road show such a success!!
Back with the buffalo,
2006 West Coast Road Show Crew
Jesse, Mike, and Seamus
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*
Last Words
"Without habitat, there is no wildlife. It's that
simple."
~ Wildlife Habitat Canada
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