A symphony of hooves clattering on metal and snow broke through a severe blizzard at a ranch run by the Métis in northeastern Alberta. Twenty shaggy wood bison dashed out of a metal container and into a fenced area of the boreal forest one after the other. As the herd vanished into the swirling snow, there were embraces, cheers, and celebratory high-fives.
This marked the first bison stampede, although controlled, at the Willow Lake Métis Nation in approximately 120 years. Around 30 elders and leaders from the community welcomed the herd, which had been moved from Elk Island National Park. The bison now reside on a ranch managed by the Métis community near the hamlet of Anzac, about 50 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray.
Robert Cree, an elder from the nearby Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, expressed his joy at witnessing the event, stating, “It’s so nice and humbling… so very beautiful to see. I’m glad I’m part of it. I’m glad they’re back home. There used to be buffalo here years ago. My grandfather used to talk about it. I’m glad they’re back on our traditional lands.”
The opening of the ranch is considered a historic milestone for both the Indigenous community and the bison themselves, according to Métis leaders. Kyle Whitford, an Indigenous guardian for Willow Lake Métis Nation, hailed the herd as a triumph for food sustainability, stating, “It’s bringing the wood bison back to Wood Buffalo. I’m very excited and very relieved now that they’re at their home, which they’ll love and enjoy because we built it with love.”
Part of Willow Lake’s $50-million, multi-year food sustainability plan, the bison will occupy 16 hectares of the 82-hectare ranch, which will eventually host hens, honey bees, greenhouses, hydroponics, and community gardens. Matthew Michetti, who oversees government and industry relations for Willow Lake, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “It’s a really valuable start to our agriculture and tourism business, as well as helping to achieve sovereignty, which is being able to influence your environment.”
Stella Lavallee, president of Willow Lake Métis Nation, expressed eagerness for elders to contribute their knowledge to the bison harvest, providing immediate sustenance for Métis families while passing on vital skills to younger generations. Feather Bourque-Jenner, the director at Willow Lake, highlighted the project’s role in reducing food and living expenses in the north, saying, “A part of that is reintroducing our lifestyle in a more sustainable way back into our day-to-day life.”
Nathaniel Ostashewski, owner of Cyrus Bison in Bonnyville, Alberta, located over 400 kilometers south, is advising Willow Lake on ranching and anticipates the herd’s expansion. He noted that the adjacent Gregoire Lake’s humid climate and extended northern summer daylight promote plant growth. The bison will help transform the muskeg into a lively prairie by aerating the soil with their sharp hooves, reintroducing moisture and nutrients. Ostashewski remarked, “If bison flourish in Alberta, so be it. That’s much better for all of us.”