| It's doubtful that we will ever again see the huge | | | | Another method of hunting was the pound where |
| herds of buffalo that existed years ago. Nor will | | | | the buffalo were run into a circular area enclosed by |
| these magnificent creatures again run free on the | | | | trees or rocks, or even a dead end canyon. But |
| plains. But at least they still exist, unlike many animals | | | | often, mounted men chased the animals, killing them |
| that have now become extinct. | | | | from the backs of their horses, often endangering |
| The recorded history of the buffalo or bison on the | | | | their own lives by riding into the midst of the |
| Canadian prairies dates back to nine thousand years | | | | stampeding beasts. |
| ago. Archaeologists have found knives and spear | | | | The last of the free-roaming buffalo herds on the |
| points made from the bones of buffalo as well as | | | | Canadian prairies disappeared over a hundred years |
| the bones themselves in southern Alberta. | | | | ago when the white race arrived. The newcomers |
| Throughout history, the buffalo was important to the | | | | killed the animal for meat, taking only the choicest |
| Native Canadian way of life. Buffalo meat was one of | | | | cuts, and left the rest to rot. They took the hides |
| the main foods, but the Natives wasted nothing. | | | | back to Europe where warm buffalo coats and hats |
| Hides were used for clothing and for tepees. Bones | | | | became a fad. They returned and killed more animals |
| made various implements, from knives and spears to | | | | for their hides, again wasting the rest of the animal. |
| needles. The horns were used as cups and even | | | | And sometimes they just killed the buffalo for sport. |
| various internal organs, like the stomach and bladder, | | | | In fact, they hunted the animal to near extinction. |
| made pouches for food and bags to hold water. The | | | | Until a few years ago, only a few animals remained. |
| hooves often hung above the entrance to the | | | | In 1922, the government created Wood Buffalo |
| teepee and rattled when anyone entered. | | | | National Park to protect the last of the remaining |
| Even buffalo manure, known as buffalo chips, was | | | | herds. Other herds have been established at Elk |
| useful. Buffalo chips made an excellent wood | | | | Island Park, Prince Albert and Riding Mountain. |
| replacement and burned with a slow, steady heat. | | | | Recovery herds exist in several places. |
| Natives sometimes hunted the animals as individual | | | | But the buffalo is making a comeback. Recently |
| hunters, stalking the herd until they could spear a | | | | farmers and ranchers have recognized the potential in |
| straggler. Sometimes they disguised themselves in | | | | these big animals and are raising them along with their |
| the hide of a wolf, or, when snow covered the | | | | cattle. Now a new breed is appearing - the beefalo. |
| ground, in a white blanket. | | | | This is a cross between the buffalo and any breed |
| But more often, the Natives hunted in a group, | | | | of domestic cattle. This cross produces an animal |
| sometimes on horseback and sometimes on foot. | | | | that is hardier and calves more easily than domestic |
| One method of hunting was to run the herd off a | | | | livestock. And it improves the quality of pure buffalo |
| steep cliff where many animals died and carcasses | | | | meat. |
| piled up. | | | | It's doubtful that we will ever again see the huge |
| Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump south of Calgary and | | | | herds of buffalo that existed years ago. Nor will |
| near Fort Macleod commemorates one place where | | | | these magnificent creatures again run free on the |
| this types of hunt was popular. The site documents | | | | plains. But at least they still exist, unlike many animals |
| the culture of the Plains Indians and tells the story of | | | | that have now become extinct. |
| the buffalo hunt. | | | | |