The Buffalo: A Treaty of Co-operation, Renewal and Restoration
Relationship to Buffalo
Since time immemorial, hundreds of generations of the first peoples of the FIRST NATIONS of North America have come and gone since before and after the melting of the glaciers that covered North America. For those generations BUFFALO has been our relative. BUFFALO is part of us and WE are part of BUFFALO culturally, materially, and spiritually. Our on-going relationship is so close and so embodied in us that Buffalo is the essence of our holistic eco-cultural life-ways.
Purpose and Objective of the Treaty
To honor, recognize, and revitalize the time immemorial relationship we have with BUFFALO, it is the collective intention of WE, the undersigned NATIONS, to welcome BUFFALO to once again live among us as CREATOR intended by doing everything within our means so WE and BUFFALO will once again live together to nurture each other culturally and spiritually. It is our collective intention to recognize BUFFALO as a wild free-ranging animal and as an important part of the ecological system; to provide a safe space and environment across our historic homelands, on both sides of the United States and the Canadian border, so together WE ca have our brother, the BUFFALO, lead us in nurturing our land, plants and other animals to once again realize THE BUFFALO WAYS for our future generations.
In September 2014, the Blackfeet Nation, Blood Tribe, Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, The Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes of Fort Belnap Indian Reservation, The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Fort Peck Indian Reservation, the Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Confederated Salish and Koothenai Indian Reservation, Tsuu T’Ina Nation signed The Buffalo Treaty in Browning, Montana.
In August 2015, the Stoney Nakoda Chiniki Nation, Bearspaw Nation and Wesley Nation and the Samson Cree Nation signed the treaty. All 12 nations/tribes gathered in Fort Peck for the first year anniversary of the Treaty in September 2015 for a week of Buffalo celebrations and exchanging information.
The second year anniversary meeting and ceremony will be held in Banff on September 28-29, 2016