The Fort Peck Tribe in Montana’s transfer of Yellowstone-genetics bison to First Nation in Canada is a historic first

Historic Bison Journey: Yellowstone’s Icons Traverse Borders, Restoring Cultural Connections

In an unprecedented move, a herd of Yellowstone bison has undertaken a monumental journey, traversing international borders to return to their ancestral homelands. For the first time, bison were transported from the United States to Canada, marking a significant milestone in the Yellowstone Bison Conservation Transfer Program.

Eleven bison, including a matriarch leading a family group, embarked on a 700-mile route from the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes in Montana to the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nations in Saskatchewan. This historic transfer is part of the Buffalo Treaty, an agreement between tribal nations in the U.S. and Canada to restore bison to millions of acres of landscape.

The bison, which previously roamed Yellowstone National Park, were greeted with jubilation by their new community. "Lots of singing, the whole community was yelling and happy," recalled Chamois Anderson, who helped with the transportation and logistics. "It was really, really remarkable."

Chief Tanya Stone of the recipient First Nations shared, "These buffalo are coming to us as a family group led by a matriarch. This beautiful gift is deeply meaningful as we collectively rebuild our relationship to them as they teach us perseverance, strength, and determination."

Robbie Magnan, the buffalo herd manager with the Fort Peck Tribes, expressed hope that this was just the beginning. "I’m hoping that was the first of many to come. There’s other Native nations in Canada also interested, but we had to get through the first hoop," he said.

Since 2018, the Bison Conservation Transfer Program has sent over 400 bison to 26 tribes in 12 states, with these 11 bison being the first to cross into Canada. This ongoing effort is not just about reintroducing a iconic species, but also about revitalizing cultural connections and preserving Native American heritage.