Appreciate First Nations ingenuity at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump

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Appreciate First Nations ingenuity at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump

Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park is a provincial park in Central Alberta, Canada, located about 103 km southeast of Red Deer and 16 km northeast of Trochu, 1 mile north and 10 miles east of Huxley. The park is situated along the Red Deer River and features badlands topography.

CANADA // The name paints the picture for this southern Alberta site. Buffalo Jump? Yep. For thousands of years, the Blackfoot people used the cliffs near Fort Macleod to hunt bison. Braves from the tribe would herd the animals towards the precipice and make them leap over it to their doom, thus providing meat for the people. Look around today and you'll see a lonely sweep of prairie under big skies, with a trail that leads to the spot where the buffalo plummeted. And Head-Smashed- In? That comes from a legend. A young brave wanted to watch the buffalo tumbling past from below, but the animals piled up so fast they trapped him. The weight of the carcasses crushed his skull. Blackfoot guides tell the story and explain the site's sacred nature.

What is the history of the buffalo jump in Dry Island?

This is the site of an ancient buffalo jump, where the indigenous Cree people drove bison in large numbers over the cliffs to support their tribes. The hills also contain unique flora and fauna that are not found east of the Alberta Rockies in such abundance as on Dry Island.

What is the history of the buffalo jump in Montana?

This towering limestone cliff, on the edge of a vast canyon carved by the Madison River, was used by Native Americans for 2,000 years - ending 200 years ago. The natives drove large herds of bison from this massive semicircular rock and used them for food, clothing, shelter, and supplies.

Where was the buffalo jump?

Southern Alberta, Canada
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located in southern Alberta, Canada, where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains.

Why is buffalo jump important?

The Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves and interprets more than 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture. Learn about the cultural significance of this rock to the people of the plains through extensive views, exhibits, and varied programs.

What happened to the buffalo history?

In the 1800s, Native Americans learned to use horses to chase bison, expanding their hunting range dramatically. But then white trappers and traders introduced guns to the West and killed millions more buffalo for their hides. By the mid-19th century, even train passengers were shooting bison bullets for sport.

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