A symphony of hooves clattering on metal and snow broke through a fierce blizzard at a Métis-operated ranch in northeastern Alberta. Twenty shaggy wood bison dashed out of a metal shipping container into a fenced area of the boreal forest one after another. As the herd vanished into the swirling snow, there were hugs, cheers, and high-fives. This marked the first bison stampede in roughly 120 years at the Willow Lake Métis Nation.
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, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray.
Robert Cree, an elder from the nearby Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, expressed his joy, saying, “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.”
Métis leaders view the opening of the ranch as a historic milestone for both the Indigenous community and the animals. Kyle Whitford, an Indigenous guardian for Willow Lake Métis Nation, emphasized the significance of the herd 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.”
The bison are part of Willow Lake’s $50-million, multi-year food sustainability plan. They will occupy 16 hectares of the 82-hectare ranch, which will eventually feature hens, honey bees, greenhouses, hydroponics, and community gardens. Matthew Michetti, responsible for government and industry relations at Willow Lake, commented, “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.”
Future plans involve long-term cultural and tourism initiatives such as an Indigenous medicine walk, school partnerships, and the construction of a visitors’ center. The project aims to involve elders in the bison harvest to pass on essential skills to younger generations while providing immediate food for Métis families. Feather Bourque-Jenner, Willow Lake’s director, highlighted the project’s role in reducing food and living expenses in the north, stating, “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 located over 400 kilometers south in Bonnyville, Alberta, is advising Willow Lake on ranching. He anticipates the herd’s growth, attributing it to the favorable conditions of neighboring Gregoire Lake and the extended northern summer sunlight, which spur plant growth. Ostashewski emphasized the positive impact of bison flourishing in Alberta on the ecosystem.
The reintroduction of bison to the area signifies a step towards food sovereignty for the Willow Lake Métis Nation.