{"id":2186037,"date":"2025-03-16T18:00:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-16T17:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2186037"},"modified":"2025-03-14T14:35:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T13:35:32","slug":"bison-return-to-manitoba-first-nation-lands-for-first-time-in-100-years-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/bison-return-to-manitoba-first-nation-lands-for-first-time-in-100-years-watch\/","title":{"rendered":"Bison Return to Manitoba First Nation Lands for First Time in 100 Years \u2013 (WATCH)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In December of last year, when snow covered the ground and a man\u2019s breath turned to frost in the air before his eyes, a small plain in Manitoba hummed with the thudding of hooves.<\/p>\n

The Birdtail Sioux Dakota Band of southern Manitoba, Canada, welcomed 11 bison onto their tribal lands for the first time in over 100 years.<\/p>\n

\"The
The bison song \u2013 credit Southern Chiefs Organization, via Facebook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Received as a gift from the much larger Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, also located in Manitoba, the mini herd included a sacred white calf, a symbol of fortune for the tribes when times are bad.<\/p>\n

Released into the pasture to the sound of the bison song, members of the Birdtail Sioux cried out in celebration as the herd stampeded out over the frosty plains in a video shared on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Birdtail Knowledge Keeper and land-based coordinator Doug Hanska asked those in attendance, \u201ccan you feel that energy?\u201d<\/p>\n

The significance of a white calf\u2014gifted from another nation no less\u2014is great. The story goes that long ago, the prairie nations were starving as the buffalo had vanished. A beautiful woman in white came to the Lakota tribe one day and taught them how all things on the Earth are connected.<\/p>\n

When the lessons concluded, she transformed into a white buffalo calf and brought a massive herd of bison to the people, promising to return in that same form in times of need.<\/p>\n

Photos of the Sioux Valley Unity Riders arriving on horseback to escort the bison to their new home were posted on the Southern Chiefs\u2019 Organization\u2019s Facebook page.<\/p>\n

WATCH and LISTEN to the return of the buffalo\u2026<\/p>\n