| Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump |
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| by Bruce Ricketts (thanks to the Glenbow Museum in Calgary) |
The buffalo of Western Canada were nearly hunted to extinction by the white man? Right? That
may be true but the altruistic view of the Canadian Natives as only hunting for what they could
use immediately or over the winter may not be entirely true. Countless millions of buffalo were
killed, en masse, by the First Nations Peoples by driving entire herds (males, females and young
buffalo) over cliffs and harvesting them at the bottom of the "buffalo jump".
may be true but the altruistic view of the Canadian Natives as only hunting for what they could
use immediately or over the winter may not be entirely true. Countless millions of buffalo were
killed, en masse, by the First Nations Peoples by driving entire herds (males, females and young
buffalo) over cliffs and harvesting them at the bottom of the "buffalo jump".
The best known of the over 150 buffalo jumps in Alberta is the "Head- Smashed-In Buffalo
Jump" which is located just west of Fort MacLeod.
Jump" which is located just west of Fort MacLeod.
For generations hunters used bow and
arrow on horseback to hunt the buffalo.
The hunt would take place over hundreds
of square miles and could take days and
weeks to harvest all the kill. As in the case
in every culture, some people looked for a
better and more convenient way to plan the
hunt. Some 6,000 years ago, some wise
man thought... "Why take the hunt to the
buffalo? Why not bring them to the hunt?"
... and that's just what they did.
arrow on horseback to hunt the buffalo.
The hunt would take place over hundreds
of square miles and could take days and
weeks to harvest all the kill. As in the case
in every culture, some people looked for a
better and more convenient way to plan the
hunt. Some 6,000 years ago, some wise
man thought... "Why take the hunt to the
buffalo? Why not bring them to the hunt?"
... and that's just what they did.
A buffalo jump was not as simple as just driving the buffalo to the edge of a cliff. It was rather a
complex task which required the bosses to select the right area for the jump and the placement
logs and trees at just the right locations so as to "funnel" the beasts to the edge. Funneling could
also be promoted by selecting a runway bounded by hills and coulees (sharp dips in the land).
The site was generally chosen such that the precipice of the jump blended into the overall
scenery.
complex task which required the bosses to select the right area for the jump and the placement
logs and trees at just the right locations so as to "funnel" the beasts to the edge. Funneling could
also be promoted by selecting a runway bounded by hills and coulees (sharp dips in the land).
The site was generally chosen such that the precipice of the jump blended into the overall
scenery.
This way it was too late for the lead buffalo to turn around when he spotted the danger. The
funneling effect also kept the buffalo bunched up so that when the trailing buffalo learned of the
fate of the leaders it was too late to do anything about it.
funneling effect also kept the buffalo bunched up so that when the trailing buffalo learned of the
fate of the leaders it was too late to do anything about it.
The buffalo ran to and over the edge, plummeted 10 meters or so and met their makers. Those
which did not die on impact were slaughtered by bow and arrow.
which did not die on impact were slaughtered by bow and arrow.
Once the dust had settled the women and children moved in to join the tasks of skinning,
dressing and separating the meat.
dressing and separating the meat.
| Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. |
| *A note from Ozarkguy: |
A shocking truth from our past....
In 1800, the Bison was the most dominant animal on the North American continent. The majority
of these creatures were slaughtered by buffalo hunters during the 1830's though the 1870's. That's
really not very long, considering what happened during just those few years.
The over harvesting of these great beasts reduced these herds so tragically, that by 1894 the once
60 Million buffalo were reduced to a shameful 25!
In 1800, the Bison was the most dominant animal on the North American continent. The majority
of these creatures were slaughtered by buffalo hunters during the 1830's though the 1870's. That's
really not very long, considering what happened during just those few years.
The over harvesting of these great beasts reduced these herds so tragically, that by 1894 the once
60 Million buffalo were reduced to a shameful 25!
| Ozarkguy |
Maintaining and preserving our herds of buffalo is something we should
all be aware of. These books provide a reminder of what once was, so we
can all work on seeing to it that this doesn't happen again...
all be aware of. These books provide a reminder of what once was, so we
can all work on seeing to it that this doesn't happen again...
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