A symphony of hooves clattering on metal and snow cut through a severe blizzard at a Métis-operated ranch in northeastern Alberta. 20 shaggy wood bison dashed out of a metal shipping container one by one and entered a fenced area of the boreal forest. Witnessed by about 30 elders and leaders from the community, the bison herd was welcomed after being relocated from Elk Island National Park to the Willow Lake Métis Nation ranch near Anzac.
This event marked the first bison stampede, though controlled, on the Willow Lake Métis Nation in approximately 120 years. Robert Cree, an elder from the nearby Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, expressed his joy at the return of the bison to their traditional lands, reminiscing about buffalo that once roamed the area.
The opening of the ranch is deemed a historic moment for the Métis community and the animals by Métis leaders. Kyle Whitford, an Indigenous guardian for Willow Lake Métis Nation, emphasized the significance of the herd in terms of food sustainability, referring to it as a way to bring wood bison back to Wood Buffalo.
Part of a $50-million food sustainability plan, the bison will inhabit a portion of the ranch while future plans include incorporating hens, honey bees, greenhouses, hydroponics, and community gardens. Matthew Michetti, overseeing government and industry relations for Willow Lake, highlighted the initiative’s role in kickstarting agriculture and tourism businesses while promoting sovereignty.
Long-term plans involve cultural and tourism activities like an Indigenous medicine walk, educational partnerships, and a visitors’ center. Stella Lavallee, the President of Willow Lake Métis Nation, looks forward to elders sharing their knowledge during the bison harvest, which aims to provide food for Métis families and pass on essential skills to younger generations.
Nathaniel Ostashewski, owner of Cyrus Bison in Bonnyville, Alberta, is advising Willow Lake on ranching, foreseeing growth in the bison herd. The local environment’s conditions are expected to support the herd’s expansion, with the bison contributing to transforming the landscape and fostering ecological balance.
The project at Willow Lake Métis Nation represents a step towards reintegrating a sustainable lifestyle into everyday life, aiming to reduce food and living expenses in the northern region.
