A cacophony of hooves clattering against metal and snow broke through a fierce blizzard at a Métis-run ranch in northeastern Alberta. In a controlled stampede, 20 shaggy wood bison dashed out of a metal shipping container and into a fenced area of the boreal forest. Cheers, hugs, and high-fives filled the air as the herd vanished into the swirling snow. This event marked the first bison stampede on the Willow Lake Métis Nation land in approximately 120 years.
Around 30 elders and leaders from the community welcomed the herd, which had been relocated from Elk Island National Park. The bison now reside on a ranch managed by the Métis community near Anzac, about 50 kilometers southeast of Fort McMurray. “It’s so nice and humbling… so very beautiful to see. I’m glad I’m part of it,” expressed Robert Cree, an elder from the nearby Fort McMurray 468 First Nation. He added, “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 the Indigenous community and the bison themselves, as stated by Métis leaders. Kyle Whitford, an Indigenous guardian employed as a trapper for Willow Lake Métis Nation, hailed the herd as a triumph for food sustainability. “It’s bringing the wood bison back to Wood Buffalo,” Whitford emphasized. “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. Future additions to the ranch will include hens, honey bees, greenhouses, hydroponics, and community gardens. “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,” noted Matthew Michetti, who oversees government and industry relations for Willow Lake.
Long-term plans for culture and tourism involve an Indigenous medicine walk, school partnerships, and the construction of a visitors’ center. Stella Lavallee, president of Willow Lake Métis Nation, expressed excitement about involving elders in the bison harvest to provide immediate food for Métis families while passing down crucial skills to younger generations. Feather Bourque-Jenner, the director of Willow Lake, highlighted the project’s role in reducing food and living expenses in the northern region. “A part of that is reintroducing our lifestyle in a more sustainable way back into our day-to-day life,” she emphasized.
Nathaniel Ostashewski, owner of Cyrus Bison in Bonnyville, Alberta, is advising Willow Lake on ranching and foresees continued growth of the herd. He pointed out that the nearby Gregoire Lake’s humidity and long northern summer sunlight promote plant growth. The bison’s presence will transform the muskeg into a vibrant prairie by aerating the soil with their sharp hooves and reintroducing moisture and nutrients. Ostashewski concluded, “If bison flourish in Alberta, so be it. That’s much better for all of us.”