Why reintroducing bison is revitalizing the Prairies and Indigenous culture, identity

On the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation west of Brandon, Man., schoolchildren are throwing pumpkins into a bison pen, a ceremony and sign of respect to an animal that has deep spiritual significance for Indigenous culture and identity.

Community leaders are also educating a new generation about how the bison, known in these parts as buffalo, has important implications for the future of the Prairies – rehabilitating natural grasslands and conserving water in a time of climate change.

"The significance of the buffalo goes back hundreds of years. These animals have saved our lives," said Anthony Tacan, a band councillor whose family is the keeper of this herd.

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And that's where the bison helped. They are considered "keystone species" or "ecosystem engineers" because they create habitat for hundreds of other prairie species.

The problem is, they haven't returned in the numbers needed and they haven't been able to follow their natural movement and behaviour.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/why-reintroducing-bison-is-revitalizing-the-prairies-and-indigenous-culture-identity-1.7057801

Very informative article, imo.