Blackfeet, Chippewa Cree, and American Prairie bison restoration (and state confrontations): Some major pushes in late 2021

iliana

iliana

— 2 min read
Share
Blackfeet, Chippewa Cree, and American Prairie bison restoration (and state confrontations): Some major pushes in late 2021

(Originally posted elsewhere on 6 December 2021.)

Among the primary official reasons that Montana land management agencies and the federal National Parks Service cite as the purpose of killing Yellowstone’s bison every year is the supposed threat that bison pose by potentially transferring brucellosis to cattle, threatening ranching industry.

However, there has not been extensively documentation of wild bison transmitting brucellosis to domestic cattle. (Wild elk, though, have been known to pass brucellosis to cattle.)

There are accusations, of course, that the policy stems more from desire to prevent bison competition with rangeland grazing.

Anyway, some news from December 2021 provokes thought about the past few months' developments.

Some degree of public frustration at announcement that nearly 1,000 bison of the Greater Yellowstone region may be culled:

Various headlines read:

“900 bison at Yellowstone to be relocated, slaughtered or shot by hunters this winter” / “Up to 900 bison at Yellowstone National Park to be killed or relocated this winter” / “900 bison from Yellowstone National Park may be shot by hunters this winter” / “Deal reached to reduced Yellowstone’s bison herd by 600-900″

Meanwhile, in other news about Montana bison from November/December 2021.

On Blackfeet land, along the eastern edge of Glacier National Park: Michele Miller. “How one Native American tribe is working to restore Montana’s buffalo population.” CBS Evening News. 25 November 2021.

At American Prairie (a native prairie restoration site) north of the Missouri River: Darrell Ehrlick. “Gianf0rte, Knudsen try to stop American Prairie’s bison through political pressure.” Daily Montanan / KTVQ / Q2 Billings. 6 December 2021.

At Rocky Boy reservation: Joee Taylor. “Chippewa Cree Tribe welcomes bison back to tribal land and talk about the importance of bison to Native Americans.” ABC - Montana Now. 8 November 2021. Updated 12 November 2021.

Read more