Blood tribe present buffalo hide

Page 2

Edmonton played host to the second annual International Bison Conference: "Bison Are Back 2000," from August 1 to 4 at the Mayfield Inn.

With more than 66 guest speakers from all over North America, a variety of topics were covered. Genetics, marketing, and the history of the buffalo in relation to the First Nations were addressed throughout the event.

Guest speakers included Tom Jackson in the opening ceremonies, and American billionaire Ted Turner during the event.

A highlight was the transferring of a spiritually significant buffalo robe from Blood Tribe members Devalon Small Legs and Bruce Starlight to Ted Turner.

"We read a story about Ted Turner, about his holdings and work to replenish the buffalo," said Small Legs, cultural advisor. "And it looked like he was excluding one important component which was of the Aboriginal people. There are other things that became extinct besides the animals. There was literally hundreds of cultures that died in the exploitation of North America and the human component is what he should be looking at."

Small Legs hopes that the transferring of the buffalo robe to Turner will open some dialogue with him and his people regarding the saving of cultures, languages and history.

"We hope that he can take part in that process because much of our culture is being diluted and lost," said Small Legs. "Our languages are disappearing and I think that if he is into the redevelopment of our wildlife here in North America then the indigenous peoples' component has to be a part of it as well."