First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park showcases a revered cultural landmark used by Native people to harvest bison for more than 600 years. By Peggy O’Neill
A PLACE OF
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SPIRITUAL SITE During a guided hike to the buffalo jump, used by Native people for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years, park manager Clark Carlson-Thompson shows visitors a pictograph (not visible in photo) depicting a tepee. “This one includes a lightning bolt indicating connections to the 32 | MONTANA OUTDOORS | SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2022 spiritual world,” he says. PHOTO BY ELIZA WILEY
he 12-year-old boy, draped in a buffalo calf hide, sits amid a herd of cows and young bulls. His human scent is masked with sage he rubbed on his skin earlier. Though surrounded by dozens of bison that could stamp out his life in an instant, he’s proud to have earned this role. He had to compete against other boys in his tribe to prove his courage, strength, and integrity. The elders selected him to be here among the buffalo herd, at the center of the circle of life. The herd moves slowly, grazing. In the distance, several tribal members wearing wolf hides walk back and forth behind the bison, nudging the animals forward. If the drivers get too close, the herd will spook and race off, but they need to remain visible to keep the buffalo moving in the right direction. The tribal member have asked these bison to give themselves up for the tribe and will thank the animals later for their sacrifice. The boy identifies the lead cow. She’s the one who keeps an eye on the herd, not letting calves stray too far. Hunched over, the buffalo runner, as he’s called, begins to imitate a calf in distress. The cow notices and walks his way. He moves off, drawing the lead cow, and the rest of the herd follows. The boy leads the herd across the plateau toward an unseen cliff between two rows of cairns. Hiding behind the rock piles are tribal members of all ages holding wolf hides. When the buffalo runner senses it’s the right time, he signals to the others to stand, wave the hides, and make noise, frightening the herd into a stampede. uu MONTANA OUTDOORS | SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2022 | 33