The signing of the buffalo treaty on Friday was witnessed by the Indigenous people from both sides of the Canada-U.S. border at Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon, home to a herd of 24 bison.
The commitment to the treaty was reaffirmed by witnesses, supporters, and other partners who also signed the agreement, including Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Bison were returned to the park in 2019 following years-long efforts to return bison to the site.
The buffalo or bison is reportedly an important part of indigenous people’s lives, and culture as it relates to them through their songs, stories, and ceremonies.
More First Nations are now coming together again to sign the treaty which had slowed down due to the pandemic.
With tens of millions of bison across North America before colonization, bison declined by 1890 to fewer than a thousand bison left on the continent, according to Parks Canada.
Prior to European contact, it was common for Indigenous peoples from different nations to enter into agreements for various reasons
Since the eight original signatories of the buffalo treaty in 2014, more than 30 signatories have joined the treaty.
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